Highlights
- If you’re looking for a small, portable speaker with good sound quality and a variety of features, the HomePod mini is a great option.
- If you’re looking for a speaker with the best possible sound quality and you’re willing to pay a premium price, the original HomePod is the way to go.
- It has a wider frequency range, a more powerful bass response, and it can be paired with another HomePod to create a stereo pair.
When Apple released the HomePod mini in 2020, it marked a significant shift in the company’s smart speaker strategy. The original HomePod, which debuted in 2018, was a high-end device with a premium price tag. The HomePod mini, on the other hand, is a more affordable option that offers many of the same features as its bigger sibling.
But how do the two HomePods compare? And which one is right for you? In this blog post, we’ll take a closer look at the HomePod mini and the original HomePod, comparing their specs, features, and sound quality. We’ll also help you decide which one is the best fit for your needs and budget.
Design:
The HomePod mini is a small, spherical speaker that comes in a variety of colors. It’s about the size of a tennis ball and weighs just 0.76 pounds. The original HomePod is a larger, cylindrical speaker that comes in black or white. It’s about the size of a grapefruit and weighs 5.5 pounds.
Both HomePods have a sleek and minimalist design that will complement any home décor. However, the HomePod mini is more portable and can be easily moved from room to room.
Sound Quality:
The HomePod mini and the original HomePod both offer excellent sound quality. However, the original HomePod has a slight edge in terms of overall sound performance.
The original HomePod has a wider frequency range and can produce louder sound than the HomePod mini. It also has a more powerful bass response. As a result, the original HomePod is better suited for filling larger rooms with sound.
The HomePod mini, on the other hand, is still a great option for smaller rooms or for listening to music at lower volumes. It produces clear and well-balanced sound, and it has a surprisingly good bass response for its size.
Features:
The HomePod mini and the original HomePod both offer a variety of features, including:
- Voice control: Both HomePods can be controlled using Siri, Apple’s voice assistant. You can use Siri to play music, control smart home devices, get the weather forecast, and more.
- Multi-room audio: Both HomePods can be paired with other HomePods to create a multi-room audio system. This allows you to play the same music in multiple rooms simultaneously.
- AirPlay 2: Both HomePods support AirPlay 2, which allows you to stream audio from your iPhone, iPad, or Mac to the speaker.
However, there are a few key differences between the features offered by the HomePod mini and the original HomePod.
- Thread support: The HomePod mini supports Thread, a low-power mesh networking protocol that is used by smart home devices. This allows the HomePod mini to connect to other Thread-enabled devices, such as smart lights and thermostats, and control them using Siri. The original HomePod does not support Thread.
- Stereo pairing: The original HomePod can be paired with another HomePod to create a stereo pair. This provides a wider soundstage and a more immersive listening experience. The HomePod mini does not support stereo pairing.
Price:
The HomePod mini is priced at $99, while the original HomePod is priced at $299. This makes the HomePod mini a more affordable option for those who are looking for a budget-friendly smart speaker.
Which One Is Right for You?
The HomePod mini and the original HomePod are both great smart speakers with a lot to offer. However, the best one for you will depend on your specific needs and budget.
If you’re looking for a small, portable speaker with good sound quality and a variety of features, the HomePod mini is a great option. It’s also a more affordable option than the original HomePod.
If you’re looking for a speaker with the best possible sound quality and you’re willing to pay a premium price, the original HomePod is the way to go. It has a wider frequency range, a more powerful bass response, and it can be paired with another HomePod to create a stereo pair.
Final Verdict:
The HomePod mini and the original HomePod are both excellent smart speakers with a lot to offer. The best one for you will depend on your specific needs and budget.
If you’re looking for a small, portable speaker with good sound quality and a variety of features, the HomePod mini is a great option. It’s also a more affordable option than the original HomePod.
If you’re looking for a speaker with the best possible sound quality and you’re willing to pay a premium price, the original HomePod is the way to go. It has a wider frequency range, a more powerful bass response, and it can be paired with another HomePod to create a stereo pair.
What People Want to Know
Q: What are the main differences between the HomePod mini and the original HomePod?
A: The main differences between the HomePod mini and the original HomePod are size, sound quality, features, and price. The HomePod mini is a smaller, more portable speaker with a lower price tag. It has good sound quality, but the original HomePod has a wider frequency range, a more powerful bass response, and it can be paired with another HomePod to create a stereo pair. The HomePod mini also supports Thread, a low-power mesh networking protocol that is used by smart home devices.
Q: Which HomePod is better for music?
A: The original HomePod has a wider frequency range, a more powerful bass response, and it can be paired with another HomePod to create a stereo pair. This makes it the better choice for music lovers who want the best possible sound quality.
Q: Which HomePod is better for smart home control?
A: Both HomePods can be used to control smart home devices using Siri. However, the HomePod mini has an advantage over the original HomePod because it supports Thread. Thread is a low-power mesh networking protocol that is used by smart home devices. This allows the HomePod mini to connect to other Thread-enabled devices, such as smart lights and thermostats, and control them using Siri.
Q: Which HomePod is better for multi-room audio?
A: Both HomePods can be paired with other HomePods to create a multi-room audio system. However, the original HomePod has a wider frequency range and a more powerful bass response. This makes it the better choice for larger rooms or for listening to music at higher volumes.