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The Verge’s hands-on report finds Apple’s $149 HomePod Mini 2 responds faster to music and smart-home requests, adds a deep green color and lets users disable the top touch controls. The review’s main disappointment is the Mac default-speaker feature, which did not work as expected in testing; Apple’s promised Siri AI upgrade is not yet available.
The $149 HomePod Mini 2 responds more quickly to music and smart-home requests than its predecessor, according to a hands-on report from The Verge, but the reviewer found the new Mac default-speaker feature disappointing. The report also highlights a new setting to disable the speaker’s touch controls, while Apple’s promised Siri AI upgrade is not yet available.
After using two speakers in a home office for a couple of days, The Verge’s reviewer said the Mini 2 regularly handled basic Siri requests in under three seconds. In the reviewer’s tests, asking for Taylor Swift started a song within seconds, a question about the World Series was answered in under two seconds, and commands to turn off a light or open shades took under three seconds. The reviewer compared that with waits of up to 10 seconds on the first-generation Mini in their experience.
Apple moved the speaker from an S5 chip to an S10 and from Wi-Fi 4 to Wi-Fi 6E, changes the report credits with the quicker performance. Siri also gave shorter acknowledgments for some smart-home commands, sometimes carrying them out without a spoken confirmation. More demanding questions still led Siri to offer web results on an iPhone, the reviewer said; the more advanced Siri AI features have not arrived.
The report praises the new green finish and says the unchanged speaker system still sounds good for the device’s size, with clear vocals and mids and satisfying bass in the reviewer’s listening. Two Mini 2 units paired for stereo filled the reviewer’s office with sound. A new Home app setting can lock the top touch controls, and the new Sound Glow effect matches the LEDs to album art. Sound Glow works with Apple Music and Podcasts and is also available on some older HomePods, according to the report.
Faster Commands, Familiar Sound
The report’s clearest practical case for the Mini 2 is less waiting during routine use, not a new listening experience. People who rely on a HomePod for music playback or controlling lights and shades may notice quicker responses, though the reviewer’s timing reflects testing in one home and is not a guarantee for every network or setup.
The unchanged speaker hardware makes the upgrade harder to judge on sound alone. The report describes the audio as capable for a compact speaker, but its strongest praise is for convenience: a faster assistant and lockable touch controls. The Mac feature’s reported shortcomings and the absent Siri AI update leave important questions about how much the new model’s promise extends beyond those everyday improvements.
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Six Years After the Original Mini
The first-generation HomePod Mini launched at $99, while Apple’s new model is priced at $149, according to the source report. The reviewer initially questioned that price increase because Apple had not changed the speaker system and the announced hardware updates appeared limited. After testing the device, the reviewer was more positive about its speed and the addition of the touch-control lock.
Apple introduced the Mini 2 at its Welcome Home event the previous month, as described in the report. The product includes new colors, faster internal hardware, Wi-Fi 6E and the Sound Glow lighting effect. The source’s hands-on account is an individual review, rather than a broad performance test across different homes, routers or Mac configurations.
“Siri on the Mini 2 is much snappier than on the first-gen Mini, regularly responding in under three seconds.”
— The Verge reviewer
Mac Audio and Siri Still Pending
The supplied report ends as the reviewer begins describing the Mini 2’s persistent AirPlay connection and its role as a Mac’s default speaker. It identifies that feature as a disappointment but does not include the reviewer’s full explanation of what failed or under what conditions. The exact issue, its scope and whether it can be fixed through software are therefore unclear from the available material.
Apple has not provided a specific release date in the source for the promised Siri AI update; the company said it would arrive “later” in a software update. The report also does not establish how the speaker’s response times compare across varied Wi-Fi networks or how performance may change with a final software release.
Watch for Software and Mac Tests
The next key milestone is Apple’s release of the Siri AI software update, for which the source gives no date. Further hands-on testing may clarify the Mac AirPlay issue and whether the experience varies by computer, network or software version. Buyers weighing the $149 price can also compare the Mini 2’s response speed and updated controls with the original model before deciding whether those changes justify an upgrade.
Key Questions
How much does the HomePod Mini 2 cost?
The source report lists the HomePod Mini 2 at $149. It says the original model launched at $99.
Is the new Siri AI available on the HomePod Mini 2?
No. The Verge report says Apple described the Siri AI features as coming “later” in a software update, and they were not available during the hands-on test.
What did the reviewer find disappointing?
The reviewer identified the Mini 2’s Mac default-speaker feature, based on a persistent AirPlay connection, as a disappointment. The provided source text cuts off before explaining the problem in detail, so its precise cause is not available.
Can the HomePod Mini 2 touch controls be disabled?
Yes. The report says a new setting in Apple’s Home app can lock the top controls. It says the option applies to older and newer HomePods, not just the Mini 2.
Does the HomePod Mini 2 have new speakers?
The report says Apple did not update the speaker system. The reviewer nevertheless described the Mini 2 as sounding good for its size and said a stereo pair filled a home office with sound.
Source: theverge.com
