Apple HomePod Mini

A very impressive smart speaker from Apple and, for once, the price isn’t too high.

If you’re a dedicated Apple and Siri user, the HomePod Mini makes for a solid choice, but if you’re willing to try Alexa or Google Assistant, there are better values out there.

This shrunken smart speaker is a sonic success – but old issues still remain for now.

It feels like Apple is still two years or more behind Amazon and Google when it comes to smart speakers. And compared to the equally priced Echo and Nest Audio, the HomePod mini struggles to keep up in both sound quality and features.

The HomePod mini improves on the original HomePod in a lot of ways. Audio quality is very good for a $100 speaker, and Siri is a lot more capable than it was back in 2018. If you’re in Apple’s ecosystem and want a speaker that’s both tiny and sounds good, the HomePod mini is a solid option.

It’s much smaller and more affordable than expected, but the most surprising thing about the HomePod Mini is its superb sound.

At $99, the HomePod Mini is Apple's most affordable smart home speaker. It's worth a look, especially if you're already invested in Apple's ecosystem.

Unlike most other smart speakers, the HomePod mini is not cross-platform, needs an Apple Music subscription to get the best out of it and requires you and your family members to be fully integrated into the Apple ecosystem – Android users need not apply. The HomePod mini is the best new smart speaker for those who live and breathe Apple but for everyone else there are better options.