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CNET reviewer Tyler Lacoma reports that Apple’s HomePod Mini 2 keeps the first Mini’s size and familiar setup but delivers noticeably louder, clearer sound in side-by-side testing. The $150 speaker also adds an S10 chip and microphone, though some Siri AI features are still pending and the larger HomePod remains stronger for bass.
Apple’s $150 HomePod Mini 2 retains the original Mini’s compact design, but hands-on tests by CNET reviewer Tyler Lacoma found that it produces louder, clearer sound with greater range than the previous model. The results make audio the most substantial reported reason to consider the new speaker, while several of its promised Siri AI capabilities remain unavailable for now.
Lacoma compared the HomePod Mini 2 with the original Mini and a second-generation full-size HomePod, playing the same audio at the same volume and switching repeatedly between the speakers. He streamed Apple Lossless audio through Apple Music. In those tests, he found the new Mini sounded significantly fuller and clearer than the first-generation model, with enough difference to change his initial view of its value. These findings reflect one reviewer’s listening tests, not a published laboratory measurement.
The new speaker remains the same size and shape as its predecessor, and Apple describes both models with the same basic acoustic components: a full-range driver and dual passive radiators. The changes listed in the review include an Apple S10 chip, an additional microphone for Siri conversations, new color options and a lighting effect called Sound Glow. The effect pulses in response to music, but Lacoma found it unimpressive; users can turn it off.
Apple device owners should recognize the setup process. After updating to the latest iOS or iPadOS, a nearby Apple device can detect the speaker and transfer settings, a process Lacoma said took under a minute. Music handoff from an iPhone also worked quickly in his testing. The Mini 2 costs $150, compared with $129 for the original Mini cited in the review. Lacoma said the larger second-generation HomePod still delivered better volume and especially bass, but costs $349.
A Clearer Case for the Mini
The reported audio gain could matter most to people who already own the first Mini and have found its output too limited for a room. Lacoma’s comparison suggests the new model is more than a cosmetic refresh, despite its nearly unchanged appearance and Apple’s similar description of the speakers’ core audio hardware. Buyers who want a small speaker that can fill a room may see more value in the Mini 2 than they did in the original.
That does not make it a replacement for the full-size HomePod in every setting. CNET’s reviewer found the larger speaker stronger at bass and high volume, while the Mini 2 costs less and takes up less space. The choice is therefore a trade-off between size, price and audio performance, rather than a claim that the compact speaker matches Apple’s larger model.
The update also shows the limits of buying hardware for future software. Apple has added a newer chip and microphone, but the review says users will have to wait for the promised Siri AI features. The speaker’s current value should be judged on what works now, including its sound and existing HomePod functions, rather than on features that have not yet arrived.
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From Mini Refresh to Test Results
Apple’s October announcements included a broader push into the smart home, with new security equipment, a HomeView smart display and the HomePod Mini 2. The new speaker follows the original Mini, which the source review identifies as a 2021 model. Its familiar appearance makes the internal changes hard to spot, and Apple’s brief hardware description does not spell out the acoustic differences that Lacoma heard in testing.
The review also places the speaker in a price-sensitive market: it lists Google’s new Home speaker at $100, below the Mini 2’s $150 price. Those models are not presented as identical products, and the source does not provide a direct audio comparison with Google’s device. The price figures give readers a point of reference, not a conclusion about which ecosystem or speaker is the better buy.
“The new Mini 2 had significantly greater range and louder, clearer audio than the first HomePod Mini.”
— Tyler Lacoma, CNET reviewer
Siri Features Still Pending
The review says some of the HomePod Mini 2’s Siri AI features are not yet available, but it does not identify a release date or list precisely which capabilities are waiting to arrive. The S10 chip and extra microphone are hardware changes; they do not establish when future software functions will be enabled or how well those functions will work.
Apple’s stated driver and radiator description does not explain what accounts for the reviewer’s reported audio improvement. CNET’s tests provide a direct listening comparison, but the source offers no measured frequency response, maximum volume figures or broader panel of listeners. It is also unclear from the supplied report how the new speaker performs with other streaming services beyond the stated AirPlay and Siri compatibility considerations.
Software Rollout and Buyer Choice
Readers considering the speaker can compare the Mini 2 with their current Mini and decide whether the reported improvement in sound justifies the price difference. Those most interested in Siri AI should check Apple’s current feature availability before buying, since the review gives no timetable for the pending capabilities.
Further clarity will depend on Apple’s software updates and any additional testing of the speaker’s audio and smart-home functions. For now, the available report supports a narrower conclusion: the Mini 2 is a compact, more expensive successor that CNET’s reviewer found audibly better than the original, but it does not match the larger HomePod’s bass performance.
Key Questions
What is the main upgrade in the HomePod Mini 2?
CNET reviewer Tyler Lacoma found that it delivered louder, clearer sound and greater range than the original Mini in side-by-side listening tests. The speaker also adds an S10 chip and another microphone, according to the review.
Does the HomePod Mini 2 look different?
It keeps the original Mini’s size and shape. The review notes new color options and a Sound Glow effect that makes the top control panel pulse with music; that lighting feature can be switched off.
How much does the HomePod Mini 2 cost?
The review lists its price as $150, compared with $129 for the original HomePod Mini and $349 for the second-generation full-size HomePod.
Does it sound as powerful as the full-size HomePod?
No. In Lacoma’s tests, the second-generation full-size HomePod handled high volume and especially bass better. The Mini 2 was reported to sound substantially better than the original Mini, but it remains the smaller speaker.
Are all of the new Siri AI features available now?
No. The review says buyers will have to wait for some Siri AI features, but it does not specify which features are pending or when Apple will release them.
Source: cnet.com
