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Apple announced the HomePod Mini 2 at its Welcome Home event, setting a $149 starting price, Oct. 30 store arrival and preorders beginning now. CNET’s hands-on report describes room-filling sound from a four-speaker demonstration, while Apple says a future software update will add Siri AI features. Audio comparisons, AI availability on older HomePods and pricing for the AI features remain unclear.
Apple announced the HomePod Mini 2 at its Welcome Home event, pricing the compact smart speaker at $149 and promising Siri AI features in a future update. The new model is available to preorder and is due in stores Oct. 30; CNET’s early hands-on report found that four linked speakers produced room-filling sound, though the new speaker’s performance has not yet been independently tested in a full review.
The speaker measures about 4 inches across and comes in five colors, including green and blue. Apple says its S10 chip analyzes music in real time to optimize playback. The price is nearly $50 above the previous HomePod Mini, keeping the new model in Apple’s smaller-speaker line while raising its entry cost.
CNET’s Ajay Kumar listened to a demonstration using four HomePod Mini 2 speakers. He described the sound as surprisingly room-filling for devices of that size, and said switching off the two speakers behind him made the audio sound less robust. Kumar cautioned that the setup should not be treated as a cheap replacement for a 7.1-channel home theater. This was a demonstration, not a full comparative test.
Apple says the speaker will support basic Siri commands, including questions, reminders and control of Apple Home devices. A later update is expected to add Siri AI features that draw on a user’s iPhone activity to interpret requests using personal context. Apple examples included finding a song referenced in a text conversation and locating a recipe in email, then adding its ingredients to a shopping list.
A Higher Price for Smarter HomePod
The new model gives Apple a refreshed option in a smart-speaker market where Amazon and Google have also introduced newer products. Its significance will depend on whether the promised Siri features make everyday requests more useful, and whether the sound improves enough to justify a price increase of nearly $50 over the previous Mini.
Apple’s approach also links the speaker’s AI functions to information in its own apps and services. That may appeal to people already using an iPhone and Apple Home, but the event report leaves open how much of the experience will require the new hardware, a particular iPhone, or an additional payment. Buyers comparing speakers should also note that CNET’s report lists support for Apple Music, TuneIn, iHeartRadio and Audacy, but does not mention Spotify or Tidal.
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From Original Mini to S10
The HomePod Mini 2 follows the first-generation HomePod Mini, whose audio design appears to carry over: CNET reports a full-range driver and dual passive radiators intended to produce 360-degree sound. The source does not describe a changed driver layout, so the extent of any hardware-based audio improvement is not yet clear; Apple has highlighted the S10 chip’s real-time audio processing.
Apple also presented the Mini 2 as part of a broader smart-home announcement that included the HomeView smart display and new home-security and smart-home products. The speaker can link with up to four models for a surround-style setup and works with the new Apple TV 4K announced at the event, according to the report. CNET said it plans to compare the speaker with other new smart speakers, including the Amazon Echo Studio and Google Home Speaker.
“The four HomePods set up for the Mini 2 produced surprisingly room-filling sound.”
— Ajay Kumar, CNET, describing the four-speaker demonstration
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AI Rollout and Sound Tests Pending
Apple has not provided a full timetable for the Siri AI update, its complete feature list or pricing details for those features. CNET reported that some Siri AI abilities may work on older devices, but said it was not clear which functions would be compatible with existing HomePods or how broadly. Apple’s examples describe planned capabilities, not results verified in a finished product review.
The sound improvement also remains unmeasured. Although Apple points to the S10 chip and CNET heard a multi-speaker setup, the report notes that the listed driver and radiator arrangement resembles the original Mini. Comparative testing should clarify how much audio quality changes, how effective the linked-speaker setup is, and whether the speaker supports additional music services such as Spotify and Tidal.
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Preorders, Launch and Independent Reviews
Customers can preorder the HomePod Mini 2 at $149, with Apple’s stated store date set for Oct. 30. A key later milestone is the promised Siri AI software update; Apple has not specified its release date in the source report. Until the update and independent tests arrive, buyers have the event demonstration, Apple’s feature descriptions and the announced price to weigh against existing smart speakers.
CNET said it plans to test the Mini 2 alongside other new speakers, including products from Amazon and Google. Those comparisons should help establish whether the S10 processing yields audible gains and how the HomePod performs for music and television audio. Apple’s clarification of compatibility and any AI-related costs will also affect how current HomePod owners assess the upgrade.
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Key Questions
How much does the HomePod Mini 2 cost?
Apple set the starting price at $149. CNET reports that this is nearly $50 more than the previous HomePod Mini.
When will the HomePod Mini 2 be available?
Preorders are open, and Apple says the speaker will arrive in stores on Oct. 30.
What Siri AI features are planned?
Apple says a future update will let Siri use contextual information from iPhone activity to respond to requests, with examples involving a song mentioned in a text and a recipe found in email. The report does not give a release date or full feature list.
Will the Siri AI features work on older HomePods?
That is not yet clear. CNET reported that some Siri AI abilities may be backward-compatible, but the specific features and supported older HomePod models have not been established.
Does the HomePod Mini 2 support Spotify?
CNET’s report lists Apple Music, TuneIn, iHeartRadio and Audacy, but does not mention Spotify or Tidal. Apple’s support for those services was not confirmed in the source material.
Source: rss
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