Apple wants to revitalize the HomePod and its strategy has been to launch the new HomePod mini . A smart speaker that comes with a groundbreaking price and a design that allows it to be placed in any area of the home. In this article we tell you all the details you should know about this Apple product.
More compact design and new controls
In general, the new HomePod mini has an aesthetic similar to the original HomePod but with more than obvious differences. The main one lies in its size since it is very compact at 8.43 cm high and 9.79 cm wide . Its weight is 345 grams and has the possibility of being purchased in white or space gray. It has a round shape and is covered by a mesh that is identical to that of the HomePods. This mesh is interrupted at the back by a power cord that cannot be removed.
At the top there is a touch panel that supports various types of gestures and at all times has a lighting system that can impress. In this way you can have complete control of the content that is being played. It works through the touches that you give and specifically the functions it supports are the following:
- One touch: play or pause music or Siri.
- Double tap: skip the song.
- Tap three times: rewind the song.
- Long press: invoke Siri.
- Touch or hold the ‘+’ or ‘-‘ icon: lower the volume.
Sound quality and hardware
The hardware that the HomePod mini has makes it have a more than surprising audio quality. In its guts you can find an A5 chip to be able to process all the sounds that are around it and also those that it is going to emit. In this way, the sound can be directed to where the users are, detecting where there is a wall, optimizing the volume and obviously controlling all the components. If you remove the mesh around the HomePod you find a full-range transducer and two passive radiators for deep bass and crisp highs. Thanks to this technology, a 360º experience can be achieved by emitting the HomePod sound from all sides. Obviously when the HomePod knows that it has a wall behind it it will not emit the sound or if it does it will be with the aim of bouncing it and reaching you directly.
In addition to the internal speakers, 3 microphones can be found in the construction that aim to process the instructions towards Siri. What is achieved with these three microphones is that the commands that are going to be given can be understood even if the music is very loud and even if you are not in the same room. This is something that was already seen in the original HomePod and that is achieved with an inward-facing microphone to be able to isolate the sound that comes from the HomePod itself.
The processor does not appear alone in the HomePod mini but is complemented by an ultra-wideband U1 chip. This will make pairing with iPhones that also integrate this chip much more efficient. And if we talk about pairings, it is almost mandatory to say that two HomePod mini can be connected at the same time so that the same content can be played on both speakers. Multimedia content can be sent from iPhone using different services like Apple Music or Spotify.
Siri, the protagonist of the HomePod mini
It should always be remembered that the HomePod mini is a smart speaker. Intelligence is given by Siri which can be summoned with the now traditional ‘Hey Siri’ and use the commands we are used to on the iPhone itself. In this way you can ask him to play some kind of song, add events to the calendar, inform you about the traffic to go to work … Obviously you can also make calls with the HomePod and at any time you can switch from the iPhone to the smart speaker simply by bringing them closer, ideal for when you come from the street talking on the phone.
Despite being a function that is not available in all countries, the possibility that the HomePod mini gives to recognize the voices of a family unit should be highlighted. It is capable of giving a personalized response to each user depending on who it is by recognizing their voice. In this way each member of the family will have access to their musical tastes, their agenda, their calendar … The problem in the end is that Siri can be very limited compared to the competition and this makes it not really useful . Not everything is in the way that Siri has to answer some questions, but sometimes you can not multiple a voice command. In these cases the assistant may not understand you well, something that does not happen in the competition where they understand you in a more efficient way.
Integration with HomeKit
The HomePod mini can be used as a HomeKit home automation accessory hub. This is something that can be done with the original model. In this way, all accessories can be controlled from the same place through the Home application on any device in the ecosystem. Obviously, in addition to the control through the application, it can also be carried out through Siri commands. This is possible thanks to the fact that the HomePod mini is compatible with WiFi 802.11 and Bluetooth 5.0 with a low consumption system. The problem with this compatibility is that it can only be used with HomeKit devices, closing it to other home automation devices.
In addition to having this control center at home, you will also have an intercom. Thanks to this new function enabled since iOS 14.2, any member of the family can send a voice message through the HomePod mini to be played throughout the house. It can be said that it is very similar to the ‘Walkie-talkie’ function of the Apple Watch as it can also send a response.
Price and compatibility
In order to use this HomePod mini you must have an iPhone SE (1st generation) or higher, an iPad mini 4 or higher and the 7th generation iPod Touch is also included. All these computers must always have the latest software version installed. The HomePod mini is priced at 99 euros in Spain with all taxes included and can be purchased through the Apple website, or at any authorized store.
