Apple’s new HomePod mini 2 is finally in users’ hands after a six-year wait since its predecessor. At its $149 price point, it delivers some meaningful upgrades—but not quite everything fans might have hoped for.
What’s New & What’s Familiar
The mini 2 keeps almost the same physical profile as the original: same Midnight and white color options, and only subtle changes. The biggest visible tweak is that the logo on the speaker’s base is now molded rather than printed. New colorways include green, pink, and a lighter blue, each featuring a dual-layer 3D mesh that adds visual texture up close. The green model stands out thanks to an underlying blue tone.
Performance & Connectivity Upgrades
Under the hood, the speaker now runs on Apple’s S10 chip, a notable leap from the S5 used in the first generation. This jump gives the speaker much snappier response times for features like Siri and Handoff, which feel noticeably faster and more reliable. Connectivity also climbs a rung: the HomePod mini 2 adds support for Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 6.
New Pairing Features & Sound
There are fresh pairing options this time around. The speaker can now serve as a dedicated output for Macs that support newer wireless standards, or be part of a four-speaker setup when paired with the upcoming fourth-generation Apple TV 4K. Earliest demos show the quad array delivering more immersive, room-filling audio compared to just two units. But these features are still limited: the Mac-output functionality didn’t activate in testing, likely due to early software bugs.
What’s Missing, & What’s To Come
Despite its improvements, several key areas remain untouched. Audio fidelity is largely unchanged from the original model. The LED top display hasn’t been updated, and the biggest headline feature—an AI-powered Siri—doesn’t ship with the device. Apple says it will arrive via a future software update, possibly 27.3 or later, though no firm timing was given. Other features like “Sound Glow”—which syncs light animations on top of the mini 2 with album artwork—are already available, and retroactive on older units.
After testing at home and in demo environments, the HomePod mini 2 delivers solid quality and much-appreciated speed improvements. Yet when stepping back, the lack of audio upgrades, display enhancements, and the delay of Siri AI leave the experience feeling partially fulfilled. It’s a helpful speaker upgrade—just not transformative.
What this means: the mini 2 is worthwhile for those seeking quicker responsiveness, smarter connections, and fresh aesthetics—but it doesn’t redefine what the HomePod mini line can do. Watch for the Siri AI rollout and whether audio enhancements arrive in future firmware; those could be what finally tips the scale for upgrading.
