On Wednesday, the second generation HomePod, which represented the full-size speaker’s return to Apple’s lineup. The product brought some new features, such as improved hardware, automation features and support for smart home accessory standards.
We have already made a comparison between the first and second generations of the device, showing what has evolved from one device to the other. Now, it’s time to look at the differences between the new speaker and the HomePod mini, released in 2020, in order to understand whether it’s worth paying more and buying the more expensive one or if the smaller one is enough for you.
Let’s see how these models differ?
Design
In this case, the differences are quite visible, since the mini model, as its name says, is much smaller and lighter. While the second-generation HomePod has a height of 168mm and a width of 142mm, the mini measures just 84.3×97.9mm and weighs 345 grams, versus 2.3kg for the larger one.
Other than that, the overall look is similar (the big one is a cylinder, while the mini has a more spherical shape), with a seamless weave. The touch-sensitive panels on both are similar, being slightly recessed and lighting up fully.
In terms of colors, the mini also has more options: space gray, blue, white, yellow and orange. The second-generation HomePod only comes in midnight white and midnight white.
Audio
Due to its diminutive size, the mini also has less advanced audio hardware — although this does not make the product have a low quality sound. Some features of the larger speaker, however, are not available on the smaller one, such as the Spatial Audio and room detection, which help to reproduce more immersive sound.
the function of home theater with Apple TV is supported by the mini, but without Dolby Atmos. In addition, the second-generation HomePod’s computational audio is “advanced”, which the mini’s is not, and the latest model has bass correction, which the smallest doesn’t either.
In terms of hardware, the second generation has a woofer high excursion and a 20mm diaphragm, as well as cinco tweeters e four microphones for communication with Siri. The mini, on the other hand, due to the smaller space, does not have the wooferhaving a driver and two dual passive radiators, as well as the same number of microphones.
Resources
At this point, the two HomePods come pretty close. Both support the Matter standard and the Thread protocol, in addition to sound recognition and temperature and humidity sensors – which will be activated in the mini model with HomePod Software 16.3.
Both also feature the ultra-wideband U1 chip, enabling faster playback of iPhone content, as well as Bluetooth 5.0 and 802.11n Wi-Fi. The difference lies in the main processor, which is the S7 in the second generation HomePod and the S5 in the HomePod mini.
The automation and sound recognition features, announced along with the new device, will reach both the mini and the first generation of the speaker with the update to version 16.3 of the product’s software.
Prices
The second generation HomePod costs, in the United States, US$300while the HomePod mini is priced at US$100. The products are not available in Brazil or Portugal, as Siri on the speaker still does not support Portuguese.
Summary
Basically the differences between them are:
- Woofer, tweeters and more advanced audio hardware on the second generation model;
- Absence of Spatial Audio in the mini model;
- More compact design and more colors than the mini;
- $200 difference between the two HomePods.
What separates the two HomePods, beyond price, is their focus on different audiences. While the mini is for those who want a smart speaker with cool audio, the larger model is aimed at people who are also looking for a speaker with exceptional audio quality.
That said, when thinking regarding buying one or the other, that’s basically what should be taken into account: whether you want the most advanced audio hardware apparatus or if what the mini delivers is already enough.
HomePod
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