GoKawiilApple's HomePod Mini 2 impresses with speed despite same sound hardware
Apple's $149 HomePod Mini 2, reviewed hands-on, uses a faster S10 chip and Wi-Fi 6E support that let Siri respond to commands in under three seconds, a major improvement over the original's delays. The new Siri AI features Apple promised are not yet available and will arrive in a later software update, while the speaker's sound system remains unchanged from 2020's original.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The reviewer suggests the speed boost alone could justify the $50 price increase over the original Mini for users frustrated by slow smart home responses, even though the headline AI features aren't live yet. Holding back the generative Siri update also means early buyers are paying for hardware whose main selling point is still pending software support.
- HomePod Mini 2 costs $149, up from the original's $99 launch price
- Faster S10 chip and Wi-Fi 6E cut Siri response times to under three seconds
- New Siri AI features are not yet active and await a future software update
Apple HomePod Mini 2 — This is literally the product the article reviews, and the reviewer notes it's noticeably faster at playing music and responding to smart home commands than the original. If you want a compact, great-sounding smart speaker that plays nicer with Siri and AirPlay, this refreshed Mini is worth a look.”
See Apple HomePod Mini 2 on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: theverge.com — Jennifer Pattison Tuohy, 2026-11-01
Published there as: “HomePod Mini 2 first look: Three things I love and one disappointment”
Read the original report → The summary and analysis above are GoKawiil's own, written from reporting by the source above. Facts and quotes belong to the original publisher.