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CNET reviewer Tyler Lacoma tested Apple’s $150 HomePod Mini 2 and found it louder and clearer than the original Mini, despite nearly identical size and stated speaker hardware. The new S10 chip and an extra microphone support upcoming Siri AI features, but those features were not yet available in the review.
CNET reviewer Tyler Lacoma says Apple’s $150 HomePod Mini 2 sounded noticeably louder, clearer and fuller than the original Mini in side-by-side testing, even though the two speakers look nearly identical. The review also reports a new S10 chip and an extra microphone, while noting that the model’s promised Siri AI capabilities are still to come.
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 between them. He streamed Apple Lossless audio through Apple Music and said the Mini 2 consistently had greater range and clearer, louder output than its predecessor. In his assessment, the improvement was large enough to change the speaker’s appeal, particularly for listeners who want room-filling sound in a small device.
The Mini 2 still fell short of the larger second-generation HomePod, which Lacoma said handled volume and bass better. That model costs $349, according to the review, compared with $150 for the Mini 2 and $129 for the original Mini. The price increase over the previous Mini is one factor buyers will weigh against the reported audio gains.
Apple describes both Mini models as having a full-range driver and dual passive radiators, without giving additional hardware details in the source report. The new model adds an Apple S10 chip and an extra microphone. Other features include new color options and Sound Glow, an effect that pulses the top control panel with music. Lacoma found the light effect unimpressive; it can be switched off. Apple-device setup remains automatic, with settings transferred in under a minute in the reviewer’s test.
A More Capable Speaker at Mini Size
The reported sound improvement matters because it addresses the main limitation suggested by the Mini’s size: audio that may struggle to fill a room. For people already using Apple’s smart-home ecosystem, the Mini 2 could offer a stronger listening experience without moving to the much larger and more expensive HomePod. The reviewer’s result is based on a direct listening comparison, not published laboratory measurements, so buyers should treat it as a hands-on assessment rather than a quantified performance claim.
The new chip and microphone also position the speaker for upcoming Siri AI features, but those capabilities were not available for Lacoma to evaluate. That leaves a distinction between the upgrade tested now — sound — and the software benefits Apple has yet to deliver. Buyers considering the premium over the original Mini may want to base their decision on current performance and confirmed features rather than future capabilities alone.
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What Changed Inside the Mini
Apple’s October announcements included a wider push into smart-home products, according to CNET, alongside the HomePod Mini 2. The new speaker keeps the original’s compact size and shape, so the clearest external differences are its new colors and lighting effect. The review says Apple did not provide a detailed account of changes to the speaker components, despite the substantial difference Lacoma heard in testing.
The original Mini is listed at $129, while the Mini 2 costs $150. The review also compares it with Google’s new $100 Home speaker, but does not provide a head-to-head test of those products. Lacoma’s audio comparison was instead with Apple’s two Mini generations and the second-generation full-size HomePod. HomePod users can also hand off music from an iPhone, and the reviewer found that exchange quick, as it was on the original.
“The new Mini 2 had significantly greater range and louder, clearer audio than the first HomePod Mini.”
— Tyler Lacoma, CNET reviewer
Siri Features Still Await Release
The review says users will have to wait for Apple’s Siri AI features; it does not establish when they will arrive or which capabilities will be available at launch. The source also gives no technical measurements explaining why the Mini 2 sounded better, despite Apple’s similar descriptions of the two models’ driver arrangements. Lacoma’s findings come from his listening setup and should not be read as a published standardized audio benchmark.
The supplied report does not clarify whether the listed prices reflect every market or include any promotions. It also does not test the Mini 2 against Google’s $100 speaker, so it cannot establish how the two compare in sound or features.
Watch for Siri and Buyer Tests
The next major point for prospective buyers is the arrival and public testing of the promised Siri AI functions. Until Apple makes those available and provides further detail, the review’s most concrete reason to consider an upgrade is its reported audio improvement. Additional independent comparisons could clarify how consistent that difference is across rooms, music sources and listening levels, as well as how the Mini 2 performs against competing smart speakers.
Key Questions
How does the HomePod Mini 2 compare with the original Mini?
In CNET reviewer Tyler Lacoma’s side-by-side test, the Mini 2 produced louder, clearer sound with greater range. The two models are nearly identical in size and appearance.
How much does the HomePod Mini 2 cost?
The CNET report lists the Mini 2 at $150, compared with $129 for the original HomePod Mini. It lists the second-generation full-size HomePod at $349.
Does the Mini 2 have new Siri AI features now?
The review says users will have to wait for the promised Siri AI features. It identifies an S10 chip and an extra microphone as new hardware, but does not give a release date for the AI capabilities.
What is Sound Glow?
Sound Glow is a new lighting effect that pulses the speaker’s top control panel in time with music. The reviewer considered it unimpressive, and the effect can be turned off.
Source: cnet.com
