Apple

Apple HomePod mini

Ranked #7 in Smart Speakers

543 LP on the category ladder what's LP?

Announced October 2020 by Apple

Ranked 6th... actually 7th on the board: the most proven, lowest-risk ownership story on the board, ranked here purely because its sound ceiling is low.

Consolidated from 26 cited sources across 22 outlets

Where the cited sources landed, as we read them

13 positive sources
5 mixed sources
6 unconvinced sources

See the sources

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Pros & cons

✓ Years-proven reliability with an excellent failure record
✓ Apple's long support tail
✓ Still the benchmark small smart speaker per CNET
✓ The entry point to a genuinely polished ecosystem
✓ Sound holds up well for its size

✗ Modest sound
✗ Aging platform with stagnant Siri limits its remaining runway
✗ Aging design due for replacement

The sources behind this ranking

We searched the web and YouTube for what has been published about this product, then read the articles, video transcripts and comments we found.

Evidence 6 articles and 20 video reviews

13 positive sources

What Hi-Fi? Article · May 2022

If the HomePod 2 (below) is too big and expensive for your needs but you love the idea of an Apple-made smart speaker that will fit perfectly into your iOS-oriented ecosystem, the HomePod Mini is your best bet.

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CNET CNET · 4.1M subscribers · Nov 2020

All three are great affordable smart speakers that can kick off your smart home, but which one is the best? Is there one that stands out? We're going to find out right now. Smart speakers are generally a great way to kick off a smart home. Honestly, if you don't have any smart devices yet, consider getting one of these first, and here's the good news. They're all really good.

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Engadget Engadget · 1.4M subscribers · Nov 2020

But, after spending a few weeks with it, Apple might have hit on the right formula this time. Small gadgets are often undeniably cute, and that's the case with the HomePod Mini. Holding the small speaker in my hand feels like holding an orange, albeit one with a flat bottom and top. I was taken aback at just how small it was, only 3.3 inches tall and just under 4 inches wide.

Watch D Digital Trends Digital Trends · 1.4M subscribers · Nov 2020

The HomePod mini is the smart speaker that Apple should have released first. Sure, it’s not as smart or as powerful as some of the other smart speakers out there, but it doesn’t need to be because its computational audio, subtle design, and HomeKit home hub functionality make it a logical choice for many more Apple users this time around.

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9to5Mac 9to5Mac · 970K subscribers · Jan 2023

HomePod mini is a better smart-home device than ever!

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Faiz Aly Faiz Aly · 79.7K subscribers · Apr 2025

I love that user interface. I love the remote. And I love how you can also get other applications and play games on it and and how it seamlessly works with your other Apple gadgets as well for, you know, sharing photos and videos and also AirPlay. So, I decided that it's time to complete the Apple ecosystem. So, I bought the allnew Apple TV 4K and the HomePod mini.

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Tech Dad Tech Dad · 60.9K subscribers · Apr 2025

I am ridiculously excited to try that out. Now, these HomePods come in a variety of colors, and I chose the blue and the white. The most recent color that came out last year was the midnight, which also look pretty sharp, but these are the two I chose.

Watch A AP Tech AP Tech · 55.6K subscribers · Dec 2021

This is Apple's brand new HomePod mini in orange, which was released about 2 weeks ago here in the UK. And even though it's the end of the year, at least for now , I think this is the best mini speaker for your home office that you can buy.

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Innovate Tech Trends Innovate Tech Trends · 55.6K subscribers · Apr 2026

If you want a smart home that actually feels smart in 2026, this is the only device you should be looking at. Stick around until the end because a secret feature leaked just 48 hours ago. This feature completely changes how we use AirPlay. The original HomePod Mini has been a staple of the budget Apple ecosystem. It was the easy way to get Siri into every room, but the tech inside is old now.

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Technology Talks Technology Talks · 12K subscribers · Apr 2026

The HomePod Mini 2 will feature the wildly powerful S10 processor. This chip completely eliminates that awkward delay. It brings full on device processing directly to your speaker. When you speak, Siri will respond instantly. This is the official debut of local Apple intelligence in your house. You will no longer have to talk to Siri like a robot.

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XALIRATE XALIRATE · 2.9K subscribers · Sept 2025

I like that it's small, and I'm really glad that it has a USB-C power cable. The cable is also braided, which is always good to have. On the bottom plate of the HomePod Mini speaker is where you'll find the Apple logo along with the model number, the power rating, and the serial number.

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Reach the Future Reach the Future · 1.3K subscribers · Nov 2020

[theme music - powerful and thoughtful] Okay, so the HomePod Mini is really easy to setup – all you need is your iPhone or iPad nearby which is required to transfer over your Apple profile details and settings to it Take the HomePod out the box

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Digital Trends Digital Trends · channel · May 2026

So first, I want to start by talking about design because this is where Apple absolutely nailed this. That small spherical shape with mesh fabric and that clean top interface still feels premium in a way that most speakers don't, even now in 2026.

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5 mixed sources

Stuff Chris Rowlands · reviewer · May 2026

The Apple HomePod Mini (buy now) may not be as smart as some; Apple’s shrunken smart speaker is still a sonic success.

6 Months Later 6 Months Later · 299K subscribers · Jun 2021

I've been using one for over the past six months and to be honest when I first got it, I didn't think there was any way I was going to be recommending this thing after six months of use, but I do recommend it. So, I'll tell you why, what do I like about it, and what are some of the downsides to using a HomePod Mini, and first up let's talk about the setup process and overall design.

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Jeff Geerling Article · May 2026

HomePod mini feels like magic, but it's just good timing

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Auggie G Auggie G · 2.8K subscribers · Aug 2025

I hear a lot of mixed reviews about the HomePod Mini and personally, it is one of my favorite Apple accessories that they've released. I do have the bigger HomePod, although the bigger HomePod is good and it is usable. I just don't use it often unless I'm like cooking or something like that. But other than that, I just feel like there are better options out there for a bigger kind of like speaker

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SmartHomePicksUSA SmartHomePicksUSA · 1.4K subscribers · Jan 2026

With the HomePod Mini, you're choosing that amazing integration with your Apple Gear and stronger privacy. But you have to accept that you're getting a voice assistant that's just not as smart, and you get pretty basic smart home controls compared to the others. It's the classic choice, ecosystem versus raw capability

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6 unconvinced sources

BGR José Adorno · reviewer · Jul 2026

The big problem, however, is that Apple rarely does anything about a HomePod that just stops working. In one of the Reddit threads , a user wrote: "I took my 4-year-old HomePod to an Apple Store, and the rep said there's nothing they can do since it's a dated model." The issue, of course, is that the HomePod died.

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Craig's Tech Talk Craig's Tech Talk · 183K subscribers · Dec 2025

Siri is dumb. It's not very good and it can't. Siri's good at executing commands. So, if you're controlling your smart home or you're asking for things across your Apple devices, great. But Alexa can do those things, too, but offer you more assistant side. Especially with Alexa Plus, you can have full-on conversations.

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Craig's Tech Talk Craig's Tech Talk · 183K subscribers · Mar 2026

I was thinking, does it really even matter if we get updates to these devices? Really, what's Apple going to change on these that's going to make you run out and buy one? Uh when it comes to the HomePad, I think that definitely could be the game-changer out there.

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SaranByte SaranByte · 27.2K subscribers · Jun 2026

The last update was the original OG HomePod mini back in 2020. We're waiting for a refresh, but that still hasn't launched and yeah, Apple, 6 years later, is increasing the price of this. It's now 129 and I know in the grand scheme of things, $30 isn't a lot, but then again, this is an outdated product. In fact, it won't be powerful enough to run the new Siri and so the fact that Apple's increasing prices on this really sucks.

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SaranByte SaranByte · 26.7K subscribers · Jun 2026

And I don't know why, but that detail just makes the whole situation feel more annoying than it should, because you can almost picture it. Boxes stacked somewhere in China, HomePod minis just waiting for a software update that doesn't exist yet. What's interesting is how consistent this pattern has become. Gurman basically says this isn't new information internally, either.

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Technology Talks Technology Talks · 12K subscribers · May 2026

Seriously, do not buy an Apple smart speaker right now. We just got massive, undeniable proof from the Asian supply chains that the HomePod mini 2 is not just a wild rumor anymore. It is completely manufactured, physically boxed up, and aggressively hidden from the public.

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2 stance not read sources

V Verdictfox Article Read G

GenzGadgetsZone Article Read

Frequently asked questions

It ranks #7 of 17 on our smart speakers tier list, in B tier. That placement draws on 26 cited sources across 22 outlets.

6 of the 24 sources with a clear view are critical of it, among them BGR, Craig's Tech Talk and SaranByte. Modest sound. Aging platform with stagnant Siri limits its remaining runway. Aging design due for replacement.