TL;DR
Get kitchen gear delivered free with Prime
- Fast, free delivery on millions of items
- Prime Video, Amazon Music and more included
- Member-only deals all year
The Verge’s hands-on report says Apple’s $149 HomePod Mini 2 responds to music and smart-home requests much faster than the first-generation model, and adds a setting to lock its touch controls. The report also praises its green finish and sound, but says the new persistent AirPlay feature for Mac did not work as expected; Apple’s promised Siri AI update is not available yet.
Apple’s $149 HomePod Mini 2 is noticeably quicker at playing music and handling smart-home commands than its predecessor, according to a hands-on report by The Verge, but the report found that its new Mac speaker feature did not deliver as hoped. The second-generation speaker also adds a way to disable its touch controls, while Apple’s planned Siri AI upgrade is still unavailable.
The Verge reviewer tested a pair of Mini 2 speakers in a home office for several days. The speakers use Apple’s S10 chip, replacing the original’s S5, and support Wi-Fi 6E rather than Wi-Fi 4. In the reviewer’s tests, Siri usually responded in under three seconds: a Taylor Swift song began within a few seconds, and requests to switch off a light or open the shades took less than three seconds. The reviewer said similar tasks on the first-generation Mini could take up to 10 seconds.
The faster performance applies to the existing voice assistant, not the more advanced Siri AI Apple has said is coming in a software update “later.” The Verge found that a question about a difficult or future event still prompted Siri to offer web results on an iPhone. The report also praised a quieter response style for some smart-home actions: the Mini 2 often carried out a command without the spoken acknowledgments the reviewer frequently heard from the original.
Other changes include a Home app setting that locks the top touch controls, which the report says works with old and new HomePods, and Sound Glow, an LED effect that reflects colors from album art. Sound Glow is limited to Apple Music and Podcasts, according to the report. The reviewer liked the new green finish and said the Mini 2 sounded good for its size, though Apple did not change the speaker hardware. The report’s disappointment concerned the advertised ability to use the Mini 2 as a Mac’s default speaker through a “responsive and persistent AirPlay connection.”
Speed Helps, Mac Audio Still Lags
The report describes the Mini 2 as a more responsive version of an established product, rather than a major change to its sound system. For people who use a HomePod to control lights, shades or music, shaving several seconds off common requests could make everyday use feel less frustrating. The reviewer’s account is based on testing in one home, however, and does not establish how the speed compares across different Wi-Fi networks or setups.
The Mac feature could matter to buyers looking for a compact desk speaker as well as a smart-home hub. The reviewer says the pair sounded good in an office, but reports a poor experience with the promised persistent AirPlay connection. That leaves a gap between Apple’s stated feature and the tested result. The $149 price, compared with $99 for the original at launch, also makes the absence of a speaker-hardware upgrade relevant to buyers weighing whether to replace an older Mini.
Products Worth Considering
Ninja DCT451 12-in-1 Smart Double Oven with FlexDoor, Stainless Steel
KitchenAid Classic Series 4.5-Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer, Onyx Black
KitchenAid Artisan 5-Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer, Almond Cream
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
From Six-Year Gap to S10
Apple introduced the first-generation HomePod Mini in 2020 at $99. The new model was announced at the company’s Welcome Home event the previous month, according to The Verge. Its listed price is $149, $50 above the original’s launch price. The report says the second generation brings a newer processor, more recent Wi-Fi support, new lighting behavior and revised controls, but no change to the speaker system.
The distinction between faster basic Siri and the forthcoming Siri AI is central to the hands-on assessment. The reviewer found the familiar assistant more responsive in routine tasks but said it still struggled with a harder question, offering to show web results on an iPhone. Apple has described the AI update as coming later in a software update; the source report does not give a release date.
““The green color is divine.””
— The Verge reviewer
AI and AirPlay Results Remain Open
The report does not explain precisely what failed with the Mac AirPlay feature, how often the problem occurred, or whether it can be fixed through settings or a software update. It also does not establish whether the reviewer’s experience reflects a wider issue. Apple’s promised Siri AI update has no stated release date in the source material, so its capabilities and performance on the Mini 2 remain untested there. The hands-on findings come from one reviewer’s home-office use, not a broad comparison across households.
Watch for Software and Mac Tests
The next clear milestone is Apple’s release of the promised Siri AI software update; the company has not supplied a date in the report. Further testing or an Apple response could clarify how the persistent AirPlay connection is meant to behave and whether the reviewer’s Mac experience can be resolved. Buyers considering the Mini 2 can meanwhile weigh the reported improvements in routine response speed and touch-control locking against the unchanged speaker hardware, the higher price than the original’s launch price, and the unresolved Mac feature.
Key Questions
How much does the HomePod Mini 2 cost?
The Verge report lists the HomePod Mini 2 at $149. The original model launched at $99, according to the report.
Is the new Siri AI available on the Mini 2?
No. The report says Apple described the Siri AI upgrade as coming “later” in a software update, without giving a release date. The faster responses described in the hands-on review are from the existing assistant.
What new controls does the HomePod Mini 2 add?
A setting in the Home app lets users lock the HomePod’s top touch controls. The Verge says the option applies to both older and newer HomePods.
Did the Mac speaker feature work well in testing?
The Verge reviewer reported disappointment with the Mini 2’s advertised persistent AirPlay connection for use as a Mac’s default speaker. The report does not detail the failure or establish whether it affects other users.
Did Apple improve the Mini 2’s speaker hardware?
The report says Apple did not update the speaker hardware. The reviewer nevertheless described the sound as good for the speaker’s size and said a stereo pair filled a home office with sound.
Source: theverge.com
