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CNET reviewer Tyler Lacoma found that Apple’s HomePod Mini 2 sounds noticeably louder and clearer than the original Mini in side-by-side listening tests. The $150 speaker keeps the same compact design, adds an S10 chip and microphone, and is being sold before some promised Siri AI features are ready.
Apple’s $150 HomePod Mini 2 looks much like the original, but CNET reviewer Tyler Lacoma found it delivered louder, clearer sound in repeated side-by-side tests. The review also reports faster Siri conversations enabled by a new chip and microphone, although some of the speaker’s planned Siri AI features are not yet available.
Lacoma compared the Mini 2 with the original HomePod Mini and the second-generation full-size HomePod, playing the same audio at the same volume and switching between the speakers. The music was streamed through Apple Music Lossless. In those tests, the Mini 2 had greater range and clearer, louder output than its predecessor. The reviewer said it could fill a room more effectively, while still falling short of the larger HomePod, particularly on bass and high-volume performance.
The new model costs $150, compared with $129 for the original Mini and $349 for the second-generation HomePod. Its exterior retains the first Mini’s size and shape, though Apple has added color options. Apple describes both Minis as having a full-range driver and dual passive radiators; the review says the company has not provided further hardware detail to explain the audio difference.
Changes inside include an Apple S10 chip and an extra microphone, which Apple says support computational audio and upcoming Siri AI features. The touch surface gains a “Sound Glow” effect that pulses with music. Lacoma found that light feature unimpressive, but said it can be switched off. Setup remains tied to Apple devices: an updated iPhone or iPad can detect the speaker and transfer settings, which the reviewer said took less than a minute.
A More Capable Small Apple Speaker
The test results matter most to people who want a compact speaker but found the original Mini’s sound too limited. A reported improvement in clarity, volume and range could make the smaller model a more practical choice for everyday room listening, without moving up to Apple’s larger and substantially more expensive speaker. These are one reviewer’s controlled listening impressions, not published laboratory measurements, so they do not establish how every listener or room will experience the difference.
The price increase also changes the buying decision. At $150, the Mini 2 costs $21 more than its predecessor and $50 more than the Google Home speaker cited in the review. Its appeal depends partly on Apple services and devices: setup, music handoff and Home app controls are designed around the Apple ecosystem. Buyers seeking an immediate upgrade for Siri AI should weigh the reviewer’s caveat that some related features are still pending.
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What Changed From the Original Mini
Apple introduced the Mini 2 as part of a broader October smart-home announcement that also included new security equipment and the company’s first HomeView smart display, according to the source report. The speaker’s outward design and Apple’s short description of its audio hardware remain close to the original, making the listening tests the main evidence in the review for a meaningful change.
The first HomePod Mini launched before this update, and the new model preserves familiar features such as transferring playback from an iPhone and pairing speakers for stereo sound. The full-size second-generation HomePod remains a different tier: Lacoma found it produced the strongest overall audio, especially bass, but noted its $349 price. The Mini 2 therefore sits between the older compact speaker and Apple’s more expensive full-size option.
“The new Mini 2 had significantly greater range and louder, clearer audio than the first HomePod Mini.”
— Tyler Lacoma, CNET reviewer
Siri Features Still Pending
The review says buyers will have to wait for all of the Siri AI features associated with the speaker. It does not specify which features are unavailable, when they will arrive, or whether access will depend on a software update, region or other requirements. Apple’s stated role for the S10 chip and extra microphone is to support computational audio and upcoming Siri features, but the review does not offer a separate technical test of those components.
There are also limits to the audio evidence. The comparison describes one reviewer’s listening tests with particular speakers, a source and a setup; the source provides no instrument-based measurements or broader listener results. Apple’s description of the driver and radiators does not explain what changed in sound performance, leaving the precise cause of the improvement unclear.
Updates Could Complete Siri
The next key development for buyers will be Apple’s release of the pending Siri AI features and further information about their availability. Until those features arrive, the confirmed case for the Mini 2 rests on the reviewer’s audio comparison, the revised internal components and familiar Apple-device setup. People considering an upgrade can compare the new speaker’s $150 price with the original Mini’s $129 price and the $349 full-size HomePod, while considering whether the reported sound improvement justifies the difference for their needs.
Key Questions
How does the HomePod Mini 2 sound compared with the original?
CNET reviewer Tyler Lacoma reported louder, clearer audio and greater range from the Mini 2 in repeated tests using the same tracks and volume. The review says it still does not match the second-generation full-size HomePod, particularly in bass.
What does the HomePod Mini 2 cost?
The source lists the Mini 2 at $150. It gives the original HomePod Mini’s price as $129 and the second-generation full-size HomePod’s price as $349.
Does the HomePod Mini 2 have a different design?
It keeps the original Mini’s size and shape, with new color options and a Sound Glow effect on its top control panel. The lighting effect can be turned off in the Home app.
Are the new Siri AI features available now?
Not all of them, according to the CNET review. The speaker has an S10 chip and an extra microphone for computational audio and upcoming Siri features, but the source does not give a release date or list which features remain pending.
Source: cnet.com
