Which smart speakers do I buy, the HomePod mini or the Amazon Echo ? That is one of the questions that many users continue to ask today, especially those who have some other Apple product such as the iPhone, iPad or even Apple TV. If you are one of them and you still have doubts, this is my experience with both products and why, even having both, if I had to bet on one of them it would be very clear.
HomePod mini vs Amazon Echo
When it comes to buying the HomePod mini with one of Amazon’s smart speakers, it’s easy to get carried away by the physical appearance and think that the Amazon Echo Dot would be the rival to choose. Mistake, that’s not the true competitor to Apple’s mini smart speaker. Its main contender is none other than the 4th Gen Amazon Echo.
To begin with, the fourth-generation Amazon Echo has the same price of 99 euros. Although the Amazon product has succulent discounts from time to time and can be found for 20 euros less. Still, looking at the initial PVP they are rivals. Also for benefits they are more similar. So knowing all this, let’s do a quick run through the highlights of both.
HomePod mini, features
- Dimensions: 84.3 x 97.9 mm
- Weight: 345 gr
- Colors: white, space gray, blue, yellow, orange
- Connectivity: WiFi, Bluetooth 5.0, Thread and AirPlay support plus ultra-wideband chip for nearby devices
- USB C connection (20W power adapter included in the box)
- Control: top touch panel
- Siri integration
- Notifications and information: visual alerts via top LED panel
Amazon Echo 4 Gen, features
- Dimensions: 144 x 133 mm
- Weight: 970 gr
- Colors: anthracite, white, gray
- Connectivity: WiFi, Bluetooth and integrated Zigbee control center
- Connections: current and 3.5mm audio in / out
- Control: four physical buttons on the top
- Integration with Alexa
- Notifications and information via color LED ring
Comparing both models and saving the issue of dimensions and weight, they are basically very similar and at the component level, almost as well. At least both aspire to satisfy a more demanding public.
Of course, agreeing on certain characteristics does not imply that both work the same. For example, both speakers offer Bluetooth connectivity, but only the Amazon speaker is capable of pairing with other Bluetooth devices to send audio to each other wirelessly.
However, we will talk about these details later. Now only to comment on details related to the physical section and here to say that the construction quality of both models is at a very good level. The HomePod mini feels somewhat more robust, but in these months of use no problem with them.
HomePod mini and Amazon Echo 4 Ge: music quality
A smart speaker can be asked for many things, but one of them is that it plays music, podcasts and even some movies if you connect to an Apple TV or Fire TV.
In this sense, the Apple model offers a plus in terms of sound quality. You have to pay close attention to the differences depending on what type of music, but the HomePod mini has a very balanced sound and that is surprising for the size of the device itself.
That does not mean that the Amazon Echo 4 Gen sounds bad, but it is true that despite its equalization options the representation of certain frequencies and certain higher volumes can generate a bit of distortion when compared.
Of course, if something differentiates them, to the point of making you opt for one option before the other. is the subject of supported music services:
- The HomePod mini, Apple’s proposal, is still limited to the use of Apple Music . It is true that from an iPhone, iPad or Mac you can send content that is being played in other applications thanks to AirPlay technology, but you lose that independence that is assumed to be a smart speaker. And the arrival of other services is yet to occur. So this is the only thing there is today
- For its part, Amazon’s option is the most complete by allowing the use of platforms such as Spotify, Amazon Music and even Apple Music, among others. And all this by linking these services through the corresponding skills that avoid depending on another device. Once the speaker is connected to the power and the internet, it works independently
In addition to the supported services, to this equation we must also add that Apple Music does not offer a free version while Spotify and Amazon Music do. There, of course, you will not be able to choose a song or you will have to endure the advertisements, but for those who play music occasionally it may be more interesting due to the savings it entails.
Siri vs Alexa, the experience with your assistants
In addition to playing music, we also want a smart speaker to ask you for other kinds of things. Thanks to the fact that these include a voice assistant, you can use interactions as varied as asking about the weather the next day, answering various questions or controlling the home automation.
The mini HomePod bet Apple Siri and his own HomeKit platform. Through this combination, all kinds of actions can be carried out, ranging from setting a timer or alarm to creating reminders, answering questions or controlling devices connected with the voice, among many more things.
In the case of the 4 Gen Amazon Echo or any other device compatible with Alexa, practically the same. The two big differences is that by using the Skills that are available for the Amazon platform, the number of interactions and compatible devices is really wide.
In spite of everything, the most important thing is to emphasize that the user experience with Alexa is more natural and rewarding. His understanding of natural expressions is greater, while Siri sometimes gets stuck or if today you say A and he answers, tomorrow you repeat A again and he will say that he does not know what to do. That makes anyone desperate, so to use the voice the assistant of the Echo 4 Gen is much better. There is no color and Alexa is the clear winner in this of the voice assistants.
The advantage of Siri and HomeKit is the integration with Apple products and that supposed privacy that the company is betting on. This is something that when using video security cameras or smart locks can tip the balance to one side or the other. And it is not because Amazon does not take care of it, but being a more open platform it is possible that there are more risks if we do not trust the right developers and products.
Which smart speaker to buy
At this point, choosing which speaker to buy is not really easy. If I had to do it, bet on one or the other, I am clear that my winner would be the Amazon Echo of 4 Gen.
Yes, as a product and as a user experience I find it much more satisfactory. Sometimes Siri is impossible to ask for something and to respond correctly the first time. Alexa, for her part, is able to get it right even by giving it the same order in very different ways.
The only reason why the HomePod mini seems more attractive to me is because of the integration in case of having other Apple devices. There and if you use Apple Music as a streaming music service, I do see sense and in audio quality it is true that it is superior . Not by much, but you can tell that it sounds better.
So now you know, the Amazon Echo is a safe bet on smart speaker issues. In addition, the sale prices that Amazon launches on the occasion of Black Friday or other special days make them even more attractive. But if the HomePod mini catches your attention for something in particular, then if you can take advantage and have both. Of course, living with two voice assistants is not easy at all if you do not organize yourself well when you configure devices and routines.