Overview
- HomePod 2 earns praise for room‑filling audio from a high‑excursion woofer, five tweeters, and S7‑driven room sensing with Spatial Audio support at a $299 price.
- HomePod mini remains the $99 entry point with S5‑powered computational audio, a full‑range driver and dual passive radiators that produce clear 360‑degree sound for its size.
- Both speakers act as smart‑home hubs with Matter and Thread, include temperature and humidity sensors, and support UWB handoff, but initial setup requires an iPhone or iPad.
- Stereo pairing works only between identical models and generations, and reviewers note occasional Siri and handoff hiccups when juggling AirPlay control among multiple users.
- Comparisons find Echo Dot cheaper with broader Alexa integrations, Sonos One stronger for fidelity across platforms, and Marshall geared to power and connectivity over assistant features; reports also suggest a mini refresh is being tested, though no new model has been announced.