During its online launch event, Apple introduces a smaller, entry-level version of its HomePod that is affordable, it is the Apple HomePod mini that comes with a built-in Apple S5 chip and costs $99.
With the new budgeted smart home speaker, Apple was able to slim down the original model into a more compact size, at 3.3-inch tall. It is tiny, but it offers smart speakers features, and they are loads of smart home functionalities.
There are 4 microphones for an improved inbuilt “Hey Siri” experience, and it features one main driver, two passive radiators, and an “acoustic waveguide” on the bottom. It automatically integrates with the Home app that allows you to control your smart home devices too.
Apple HomePod mini still features a mesh fabric exterior in both black and white colors, along with a small display on top to show the Siri waveform and volume controls, which is similar to the full-size HomePod.
However, the new HomePod mini is a short, spherical shape, which is unlike the oblong design of the original $349 HomePod that was first launched in 2018, it made the HomePod more expensive than other smart speakers.
Other features includes Siri Shortcuts, Ambient sounds, Find My, Web search results and Music alarms. Apple said that the HomePod mini will have support for third-party music services, such as Pandora, Amazon Music, and iHeartRadio later this year excluding Spotify.
The new Smart speaker features an Apple S5 chip, which Apple says allows for computational audio processing to adjust how your music sounds 180 times per second. Siri can also give you personal updates.
The inbuilt Siri on the HomePod Mini can easily recognize the voices of each member of your household, and can access the apps in your iPhone, to read and send messages and interact with various apps.
The Multiple HomePod mini speakers can play music in sync and intelligently create stereo pairing when placed in the same room. Intercom lets you quickly send a message from one HomePod to another in a different room, or in all rooms.
The HomePod Mini has a backlit touch-sensitive top, with play, pause and volume controls. This illuminates when Siri is active. It can pair multiple HomePod Minis together. It will starts shipping from November 16th, and preorders begins from November 6th.
