Apple’s announcement of the HomePod mini 2 highlighted “rich sound” and “advanced computational audio” but did not say whether it sounds better than the original. Several early reviews report an improvement, including in clarity, volume and bass.
Apple’s specifications list a full-range driver and dual passive radiators for both models, suggesting their core speaker hardware is unchanged. The new model uses Apple’s S10 chip, compared with the original’s S5, and that newer processor could help optimize audio through software.
CNET reviewer Tyler Lacoma compared the speakers using the same audio at the same volume, streaming Apple Lossless from Apple Music. He reported that the HomePod mini 2 had greater range and sounded louder and clearer. Cult of Mac’s Ed Hardy also described the second-generation model as noticeably better, particularly in bass.
The S10 chip may also contribute to faster responses to basic Siri requests. The Verge’s Jennifer Pattison Tuohy said the new speaker played music and handled smart-home commands more quickly than the original. That assessment concerns what Apple calls Siri Classic; the more personalized Siri AI is not expected on the HomePod mini 2 until a future software update, according to Apple.
The HomePod mini 2 was released last week and is priced at $149 in the United States.
Sources: MacRumors.