Apple on October 13 announced HomePod mini 2, a $149 successor to the $129 HomePod mini that adds the Apple S10 chip, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 6 and a new set of colors. Apple says pre-orders are open in the U.S. and more than 23 other countries and regions, with availability beginning Friday, October 30.
Based on Apple’s HomePod mini 2 press release, the new spec page and the original model’s spec and buy pages saved before the event, here is how the two speakers compare.
HomePod mini 2 vs HomePod mini at a glance
| Spec | HomePod mini 2 | HomePod mini (original) |
|---|---|---|
| Price (U.S.) | $149 | $129 |
| Colors | Pink, green, blue, white, midnight | White, yellow, orange, blue, midnight |
| Chip | Apple S10 | Not listed on Apple’s spec page |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) | 802.11n Wi-Fi |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 6 | Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Thread and Ultra Wideband | Yes | Yes |
| Temperature and humidity sensor | Yes | Yes |
| Microphones | Three-microphone design | Four-microphone design |
| Size | 3.3 inches high, 3.9 inches wide | 3.3 inches high, 3.9 inches wide |
| Weight | 0.74 pound (335 grams) | 0.76 pound (345 grams) |
| Surround sound with Apple TV 4K | Yes, with Apple TV 4K (4th generation) | Not listed |
| Siri AI | Coming in a future software update | Not listed |
| Sound Glow | Yes | Not listed |
Price and colors
HomePod mini 2 is $149 in the U.S., up from $129 for the original HomePod mini on Apple’s pre-launch buy page. The new model comes in pink, green, blue, white and midnight. The original was sold in white, yellow, orange, blue and midnight, so yellow and orange make way for pink and green, while white, blue and midnight continue by name.
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The footprint does not change. Both speakers measure 3.3 inches high (84.3 mm) and 3.9 inches wide (97.9 mm). HomePod mini 2 is slightly lighter at 0.74 pound (335 grams), against 0.76 pound (345 grams) for the original.
S10 chip, Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 6
Apple says HomePod mini 2 is powered by the Apple S10 chip and advanced computational audio, which analyzes music in real time to optimize dynamic range, loudness and acoustic performance. The original model’s spec page does not name a chip, so we are not comparing silicon here.
The wireless upgrade is clearer. The new spec page lists Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax), where the original listed 802.11n Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth 6 in place of Bluetooth 5.0. Apple notes that Wi-Fi 6E is available in countries and regions where supported. Both models keep Thread networking, the Ultra Wideband chip for device proximity and the temperature and humidity sensor.
One spec line moves the other way. The new page lists a three-microphone design for far-field Siri, while the original’s page lists a four-microphone design.
Siri AI arrives later, in English
HomePod mini 2 is the model Apple names for Siri AI, but it will not have it at launch. Apple says Siri AI is coming to HomePod mini 2 in a future software update, as a free update. It will be available in English in the U.S., Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa and the UK.
Siri AI requires the owner of the home in the Home app to have an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone or iPad running the latest software, with Siri AI turned on and set to a supported language. Personal context requests need a paired Apple Intelligence-enabled device. Apple also says Siri AI will not be initially available in the EU in iOS or iPadOS.
Four-speaker surround with Apple TV 4K
For the first time, Apple says, HomePod mini can be part of a four-speaker surround sound setup. This needs four HomePod mini 2 or HomePod (2nd generation) speakers in matching pairs (front and rear), paired with Apple TV 4K (4th generation) running the latest operating system software.
The footnote names HomePod mini 2, not the original HomePod mini, so a surround setup means four new speakers or four HomePod (2nd generation) units. Stereo pairs also require two of the same model and generation.
Sound Glow
Sound Glow turns the top of HomePod mini 2 into a visual canvas that glows and pulses in sync with music, reacting in real time to bass and treble. Album artwork from Now Playing generates a color-matched light effect for each song, and users can pick a soundscape such as rain to trigger custom animations. Voice control for Sound Glow requires an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone running the latest software.
Using HomePod mini 2 as a Mac speaker
Apple says the new HomePod mini can serve as the default speaker for Mac, for movies, gaming, FaceTime and video calls. The feature is supported on all Mac computers with Wi-Fi 6E or later and works with a single HomePod or a stereo pair. Apple’s release presents this as a HomePod mini 2 feature and does not say whether the original model gets it.
Who should upgrade
Based only on what Apple lists, upgrade if one of these applies:
- You want Siri AI on a HomePod mini. HomePod mini 2 is the model Apple names for it, but only after a future update and only in English in the eight countries listed above.
- You are building a home theater around Apple TV 4K (4th generation). Four-speaker surround requires HomePod mini 2 or HomePod (2nd generation) speakers, so original units do not qualify.
- You want a desk speaker for a Mac with Wi-Fi 6E or later. Apple pitches HomePod mini 2 for this, in a single speaker or a stereo pair.
- You want Sound Glow, newer wireless standards or the new pink and green finishes. Apple lists these only for the new model.
If you use your original HomePod mini for music, Siri requests and smart home control, Apple’s lists show the same size, the same sensor, and the same Thread and Ultra Wideband support.
Apple says HomePod mini 2 is compatible with HomePod software 27.2, and its system requirements list an iPhone or iPad with the latest iOS or iPadOS.
