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Apple announced the HomePod Mini 2 at its Welcome Home event, pricing it at $149 with preorders open and store availability set for Oct. 30. A CNET reporter heard a four-speaker demonstration that sounded room-filling, but the full audio performance and the promised Siri AI features have not yet been independently tested or fully detailed.
Apple announced the HomePod Mini 2 at its Welcome Home event, setting a $149 price and promising a future update with Siri AI features. The roughly four-inch speaker can be preordered and is expected in stores Oct. 30; CNET’s hands-on report offers an early impression of linked-speaker audio, but not a full product test.
The new speaker includes Apple’s S10 chip, which the company says analyzes music in real time to optimize playback. Apple also says the Mini 2 will support the usual Siri voice commands, including answering questions, setting reminders and controlling compatible Apple Home devices. The company announced five color options, including green and blue.
CNET reporter Ajay Kumar heard a demonstration using four HomePod Mini 2 speakers. He described the sound as surprisingly room-filling for devices of this size and said switching off the two speakers behind him made the audio feel less robust. He cautioned that the setup was not a replacement for a 7.1-channel home theater. These are impressions from a demonstration, not results from a complete review.
Apple says future Siri AI functions will draw on contextual information from a user’s iPhone to respond to requests. Examples shown included playing a song referenced in an old text message and finding a recipe in email, then adding its ingredients to a shopping list. The speaker can link up to four models for surround sound and works with the newly announced Apple TV 4K. Its listed audio services include Apple Music, TuneIn, iHeartRadio and Audacy; the report said Apple did not mention Spotify or Tidal.
A Costlier Mini With Siri Promised
The Mini 2 gives Apple a new speaker in a smart-home market where Amazon and Google have introduced competing hardware. Its $149 price is nearly $50 above the previous HomePod Mini, according to the report, so buyers will need to weigh the higher cost against the features Apple has confirmed and those it has only promised for a later update.
The most consequential pitch is the planned Siri AI integration, especially its use of personal context from Apple apps. That could make voice requests more useful for people already using an iPhone, but Apple has not yet provided full details on availability, compatibility or pricing for the AI features. The product’s value will depend partly on how well those functions work once released.
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What Apple Has Disclosed So Far
Apple’s announcement follows new smart speakers from Amazon and Google over the past year, as described by CNET. The company also revealed a smart display called HomeView at the same Welcome Home event. The Mini 2 retains a compact form, and its stated acoustic design—a full-range driver and two passive radiators producing 360-degree sound—resembles the first-generation Mini’s configuration. The report says it is not yet clear what hardware changes, beyond the new chip, account for any audio improvement.
For comparison, CNET’s earlier testing found the older HomePod Mini lagged Google’s Home Speaker in lower-frequency sound. The new model’s hands-on demonstration was encouraging to the reporter, particularly when speakers were linked, but it does not establish how the Mini 2 performs on its own or against competitors under controlled testing.
“The four HomePods set up for the Mini 2 produced surprisingly room-filling sound.”
— Ajay Kumar, CNET reporter
Key Siri and Audio Details Pending
Apple has not provided a complete release schedule or pricing details for the Siri AI update, nor specified which AI capabilities will work with older HomePod models. CNET’s reporter heard that some Siri AI abilities may be backward-compatible, but the extent of that support remains unclear.
It is also not yet clear how much the S10 chip changes sound quality compared with the first-generation Mini, or how the speaker performs in independent testing. Apple’s event material, as summarized by CNET, did not list Spotify or Tidal support; the absence of a mention does not establish whether either service will be added later. The report also does not specify whether every announced feature will be available at launch.
Preorders Before October 30
Apple is taking preorders at $149, with the HomePod Mini 2 expected to arrive in stores on Oct. 30. The next useful milestone will be independent testing of its sound, linked-speaker performance and day-to-day Siri functions. Buyers will also need further information from Apple about when the promised AI update will arrive, which existing devices will receive compatible features, and whether additional streaming services will be supported.
Key Questions
How much does the HomePod Mini 2 cost?
Apple set the price at $149. The report says that is nearly $50 more than the previous HomePod Mini.
When will the HomePod Mini 2 be available?
Preorders are available following the announcement, and Apple says the speaker will arrive in stores on Oct. 30.
What Siri AI features are planned?
Apple demonstrated requests that use information from an iPhone, such as playing a song mentioned in a text or finding a recipe in email and adding ingredients to a shopping list. The features are planned for a future update; Apple has not given full timing or pricing details.
How did the HomePod Mini 2 sound in the hands-on demonstration?
CNET’s Ajay Kumar said four linked speakers produced surprisingly room-filling sound. He also said the setup did not replace a 7.1-channel home theater. A full review and independent comparisons are still pending.
Does the new speaker support Spotify or Tidal?
CNET’s report lists Apple Music, TuneIn, iHeartRadio and Audacy, but says Apple did not mention Spotify or Tidal. The report does not confirm whether support for those services will be added.
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