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CNET reviewer Tyler Lacoma found that Apple’s HomePod Mini 2 delivers noticeably louder, clearer audio than the original Mini, despite a nearly identical design and hardware description. The $150 speaker adds an S10 chip, another microphone and new lighting effects, but some Siri AI features are not yet available.
Apple’s $150 HomePod Mini 2 looks much like the original, but CNET reviewer Tyler Lacoma’s listening tests found it produces louder, clearer sound with greater range. The review also reports a new S10 chip and an extra microphone, while some anticipated Siri AI features are not yet available.
Lacoma compared the new speaker with the original HomePod Mini and the second-generation full-size HomePod, playing the same audio at the same volume and switching between the devices. He streamed Apple Lossless audio through Apple Music and reported a consistent difference: the Mini 2 sounded fuller and clearer than its predecessor. In his assessment, the improvement was large enough to change the speaker’s appeal despite its similar specifications on paper.
The Mini 2 did not match the second-generation HomePod, which Lacoma found better at handling volume and bass. That larger model costs $349, compared with $150 for the Mini 2. The new Mini is priced above the original’s $129 price and Google’s new $100 Home speaker, according to the review.
Most visible details remain familiar: the Mini 2 keeps the original’s size and shape and retains Apple’s stated description of a full-range driver and dual passive radiators. Internal changes include the Apple S10 chip for computational audio and future Siri AI capabilities, plus another microphone. A new Sound Glow mode makes the top control panel pulse with music; Lacoma judged the effect unimpressive and said it can be switched off. Apple device setup carries over settings in under a minute, the review reports.
A Sound Upgrade at Mini Scale
The reported audio improvement gives owners a more substantive reason to consider the Mini 2 than its new lighting effects or cosmetic options. For people who want a small speaker that can fill a room, Lacoma’s comparison suggests the new model performs better than the original without requiring a move to Apple’s much larger, more expensive HomePod.
The upgrade is less straightforward for existing owners who are satisfied with their current speaker. At $150 versus $129, the new model costs more, and the review’s strongest case rests on one reviewer’s listening tests rather than published independent measurements. Buyers also should distinguish the audio improvements Lacoma tested from Siri AI features that are still pending.
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What Changed Inside the Mini
Apple introduced the HomePod Mini 2 as part of a broader set of October smart-home announcements, which the source says also included new security equipment and the company’s first HomeView smart display. The speaker follows the original Mini, which the review identifies as a 2021 model. Its exterior remains essentially unchanged, so the new generation can be difficult to identify by appearance alone.
Apple’s brief hardware description does not spell out changes to the driver arrangement: both models are described as having a full-range driver and dual passive radiators. The review points instead to the S10 chip and added microphone as internal changes, alongside the listening-test results. HomePod settings are managed in Apple’s Home app, where users can adjust Sound Glow, lock physical controls, reduce bass, pair compatible speakers for stereo, use intercom and enable sound recognition for smoke alarms.
“The new Mini 2 had significantly greater range and louder, clearer audio than the first HomePod Mini.”
— Tyler Lacoma, CNET reviewer
Siri Features Still Awaited
The review says the S10 chip is intended to support upcoming Siri AI features, but it does not identify which features are available at launch or give a release schedule for those still pending. The source also does not provide independent audio measurements, such as frequency response or output levels, to quantify the reported improvement.
Apple’s stated driver description is nearly identical for the two Mini generations, and the report does not explain which specific hardware or software changes account for the stronger sound. The listening comparison is attributed to Lacoma’s testing; it should not be read as a published laboratory measurement or a guarantee that every room and listening setup will produce the same result.
Availability and Siri Rollout
Readers considering a purchase can compare the Mini 2’s price and tested sound against the original Mini and the larger HomePod, while checking which Siri functions are actually available on their Apple devices. The review says setup requires current iOS or iPadOS software and that the Home app contains controls for audio and lighting.
The next major development to watch is Apple’s rollout of the Siri AI features associated with the S10 chip. The source provides no timetable, so their availability and eventual impact on the speaker remain unconfirmed.
Key Questions
How does the HomePod Mini 2 sound compared with the original?
CNET reviewer Tyler Lacoma reported that the Mini 2 had greater range and louder, clearer audio in repeated side-by-side listening tests. The review does not provide laboratory measurements.
What is the HomePod Mini 2 price?
The review lists the HomePod Mini 2 at $150, compared with $129 for the original Mini and $349 for the second-generation full-size HomePod.
What has changed in the new model?
The Mini 2 adds an Apple S10 chip, another microphone, new color options and a Sound Glow lighting mode. Its size and shape remain like those of the original.
Are the new Siri AI features available now?
The source describes the Siri AI features as upcoming and does not give a launch date or specify which capabilities are available. Their rollout remains unclear.
Is the HomePod Mini 2 better than the full-size HomePod?
Not according to the review’s comparison: Lacoma found the second-generation full-size HomePod handled volume and especially bass better. It also costs substantially more, at $349.
Source: cnet.com
