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CNET reviewer Tyler Lacoma reports that Apple’s $150 HomePod Mini 2 kept the original speaker’s size and familiar design but delivered noticeably louder, clearer sound in side-by-side tests. It also adds an S10 chip, another microphone and new lighting effects; the promised Siri AI features are not all available yet.
Apple’s $150 HomePod Mini 2 is the same size and shape as the earlier Mini, but CNET reviewer Tyler Lacoma found it produced louder, clearer sound with greater range in side-by-side listening tests. The review also notes a new S10 chip and an extra microphone, while some anticipated Siri AI features are still pending.
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 repeatedly between speakers. He streamed Apple Lossless audio through Apple Music. In those tests, the Mini 2 consistently sounded clearer and louder than the first Mini, with enough improvement to make it a more capable room-filling speaker, according to the reviewer.
The test did not find that the Mini 2 overtook Apple’s larger speaker. Lacoma said the second-generation HomePod remained better at higher volume and especially bass, while costing $349. The new Mini costs $150, compared with $129 for its predecessor and $100 for Google’s new Home speaker, according to the review.
Apple’s stated audio description for both Mini models remains a full-range driver and dual passive radiators, the review says. The Mini 2’s internal changes include an Apple S10 chip for computational audio and future Siri AI features, plus an additional microphone. Its visible addition is Sound Glow, a top-panel lighting effect that pulses with music. Lacoma found the effect unimpressive and said it can be turned off.
Setup follows Apple’s familiar process: after updating an iPhone or iPad, the device detects the nearby speaker and can transfer settings in under a minute, the reviewer reports. The Home app includes controls for Sound Glow, physical buttons and bass, as well as options such as stereo pairing with another compatible speaker. Music handoff between an iPhone and the Mini 2 worked quickly in the test.
A More Capable Small Apple Speaker
The reported audio gains address a central question for owners of the original Mini: whether a visually similar replacement offers enough practical improvement to justify its higher price. In Lacoma’s listening tests, the new model’s clearer, louder output made it more suitable for filling a room than the earlier Mini, rather than serving only as a compact assistant speaker.
The upgrade may matter most to households already using Apple devices and services. The speaker integrates with the Apple Home app, supports quick iPhone music handoff and can pair with another Mini 2 for stereo sound. But buyers weighing sound against price still have a trade-off: the Mini 2 costs more than its predecessor, while the much larger HomePod costs substantially more and performed better in the review, particularly on bass.
The distinction between available features and future promises also matters. The S10 chip is present, but the review says users will have to wait for all the Siri AI features. The listed improvements should not be read as proof that every planned AI capability is working on the speaker now.
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What Changed Inside the Familiar Design
Apple introduced the HomePod Mini 2 during a wider set of October announcements focused on smart-home products, according to CNET. The report places it alongside new security equipment and Apple’s first HomeView smart display. It describes the Mini 2 as a long-awaited update to the HomePod speaker line.
Externally, the new Mini closely resembles the earlier model, retaining its size and shape while adding color options and the Sound Glow effect. That similarity makes the internal changes and listening results more relevant than a visual redesign when deciding whether to upgrade. Apple’s public hardware description, as recounted by CNET, does not spell out a new driver or radiator arrangement, even as the reviewer reports a marked difference in sound.
The original Mini remains the direct comparison for owners considering an upgrade. The larger second-generation HomePod provides a different price and size class, and CNET’s tests found it still has an advantage in bass and loudness. The review’s conclusions are based on the reviewer’s listening setup and should be understood as hands-on test findings, not a published technical measurement of frequency response or output.
“The new Mini 2 had significantly greater range and louder, clearer audio than the first HomePod Mini.”
— Tyler Lacoma, CNET reviewer
Siri Features and Audio Specs
The review does not specify which Siri AI capabilities are available at launch, which are still planned, or when the remaining features will arrive. Apple’s announcement, as summarized in the source, links the S10 chip to upcoming Siri features but does not provide a complete rollout schedule.
There is also no detailed technical explanation in the supplied material for why the Mini 2 sounded substantially different despite Apple describing the audio hardware in similar terms for both generations. CNET reports a repeated listening comparison, but provides no laboratory measurements, such as output levels or frequency-response data. The findings therefore establish what the reviewer heard in that test, not the precise engineering cause or how every listener will perceive the change.
The source does not give a full release timetable, availability by market or details about whether all new colors and features are offered everywhere. It also does not establish how the Mini 2 compares with competing speakers beyond the listed prices and the reviewer’s observations.
Availability and Siri Rollout
Apple’s next relevant milestone is the arrival of the Siri AI features that the review says are not yet all available. The supplied source does not give dates or a feature-by-feature schedule, so users will need to check Apple’s announcements and software updates for confirmed rollout details.
For buyers, the immediate decision is whether the reported sound improvement and Apple ecosystem integration justify paying $150 rather than keeping an original Mini or choosing another speaker. CNET’s test supports the audio case for an upgrade, but the speaker’s actual value will also depend on a buyer’s room, listening preferences and which promised software features become available.
Key Questions
How does the HomePod Mini 2 sound compared with the original?
In CNET reviewer Tyler Lacoma’s side-by-side tests, the Mini 2 sounded louder, clearer and broader in range than the first Mini while playing the same audio at the same volume. The report does not include laboratory audio measurements.
Is the HomePod Mini 2 larger than the first model?
No. CNET says the Mini 2 has the same size and shape as its predecessor, with new color options and a Sound Glow lighting effect as visible differences.
How much does the HomePod Mini 2 cost?
The source lists the HomePod Mini 2 at $150, compared with $129 for the earlier Mini. It lists the second-generation full-size HomePod at $349.
Are all of the new Siri AI features available now?
Not according to the CNET review. It identifies the S10 chip as supporting upcoming Siri AI features but says users will have to wait for all of those features. The source does not provide a complete release schedule.
Does the Mini 2 outperform the full-size HomePod?
No. Lacoma found the second-generation full-size HomePod performed better, particularly for bass and higher-volume listening. The Mini 2 was a substantial improvement over the original Mini in the reviewer’s tests, but it remains the smaller and less expensive speaker.
Source: cnet.com
