Before revealing the new iPhone 12 models, Apple gave us a presentation of HomePod mini. Second the intelligent box launched by the American company expects record sales, especially since the price is quite affordable for fans Apple. Again. Affordable for fans Apple 😊 $ 99 at the start, and on the European market final price will reach somewhere between 130 - 160 EUR.
What is a HomePod mini and what are the differences from HomePod
Many expected that Apple to come pretty quickly with new models of smart speakers after launch HomePod in February 2018. This did not happen until the fall of 2020. At a distance of 2 and a half years, Apple has launched HomePod mini. A much smaller speaker, which we can say at first glance that looks a lot like a portable speaker. Unfortunately HomePod mini it can only be powered from the socket, not being equipped with a battery.
Although it is a small speaker and the audio performance is much lower HomePod, its characteristics cannot be ignored.
HomePod mini Vs. HomePod
Dimensions, weight and prices HomePod mini
It lacks a leaf and a bite, because otherwise HomePod mini it is the size of a decent sized apple.
Height of 84.3 mm si width / diameter of 97.9 mm (on the midline of the sphere) and 345 grams weight. If you don't have one HomePod next to you, to give you an idea of the size difference, I will tell you that an iPhone XS has a height of 150.9 mm. That is, it is 66.6 mm smaller than one iPhone X / XS.
HomePod (2018) has a tubular shape with height of 172 mm, width xNUMX mm si 2.5 kg weight.
The basic price for HomePod mini is $ 99, while a HomePod is listed by Apple at $ 299.
HomePod mini - Design
Impeccable. Spherical shape, well defined, covered in premium material with textile fabric. Unfortunately HomePod mini it also comes in only two color variants. Black and white.
An interesting feature is touch surface, Which is light in its entirety when Siri listen, speak or when touched.
It looks much better than on HomePod 2018.
HomePod mini - Connectivity, Siri and Interactions
First, what does not specify Apple is as HomePod mini can't stand any connection with his older sister, HomePod.
You can buy two HomePod mini and you will get a stereo sound in a room, but with HomePod and a HomePod mini you will never be able to do that. It would be strange to listen to a stereo song on two speakers with totally different audio performance.
HomePod mini it's not a speaker for everyone. If you do not have at least one device Apple from which to put music or a subscription Apple Music (set up from iPhone, iPad or Mac), HomePod si HomePod mini they are totally useless. These smart speakers have Bluetooth 5.0 but only recognize devices Apple. So, if you are an Android fan or Windows PC, HomePod it is not an option.
HomePod mini it works great with all devices Apple by application Home. You must have an iPhone no older than iPhone SE (first generation), an iPad mini 4 (or newer model) or iPod Touch (gen 7). a subscription Apple Music will make the speaker almost autonomous. In the sense that you can ask him Siri what song, album, playlist or radio station to play, without having your iPhone, iPad or MacBook at hand.
HomePod mini will be configured by application Home from the iPhone to the same wireless network as it. A minus is the 802.11n Wi-Fi standard, compared to 802.11ac Wi-Fi with MIMO supported by HomePod (2018). It is still a sufficient standard for music, radio and Siri query.
Make a subscription Apple Music you will be dependent on the music transferred and stored on your iPad, iPhone or MacBook and on the connection AirPlay. Of course, you can also connect it to Apple TV or directly to a device Apple by AirPlay. This way you will be able to play any sound from your iPhone. From YouTube clips, Facebook, online radio stations or phone calls.
Play audio from iPhone on HomePod mini it can also be done by simply bringing it close to the smart speaker. The sound will instantly transfer from the iPhone to the HomePod mini, and soon Apple promises new interaction experiences when the two devices are close. Music suggestions and podcast-s on the iPhone lock screen and control HomePod mini. All with iPhone locked, without having to open the application Home or Music.
The voice assistant Siri (mainly on devices Apple) is as smart as any device Apple, and through HomeKit they can all be controlled smart home accessories. Suffice it to say "Hey Siri, open lights"And again Siri on HomePod mini it will activate immediately and turn on the light in the room. Also through voice commands you can send text messages, initiate calls, add reminder in Reminder, notes in Calendar and many, many more Siri is capable.
on HomePod mini, Siri is able to recognize up to six voices of family members and act personalized for each one.
There is no risk that a family member may ask him Siri to read text messages, notes from calendar or reminder of another member.
Siri experiences, Home si HomeKit on HomePod si HomePod mini we will detail them in a future article.
In a big house, several speakers HomePod mini they can be turned into a walkie-talkie or intercom. With the new Intercom feature, a family member can send voice messages to all rooms where a HomePod mini or to certain rooms, and family members can respond very easily.
Function Intercom it is extended to other devices Apple. A voice message sent from HomePod mini through Intercom, it can also reach the iPhone, Apple Watch, iPad or AirPods.
The intercom will be very useful in houses with many rooms and a large family. Communication between family members in other rooms will be done by a simple voice command: "Hey Siri, intercom to all romms, it's dinner time".
HomePod mini - Sound, technology and microphones
How smart he is HomePod mini, I almost forgot that we are talking about a speaker, which by definition, means… sound.
Don't expect it to be a comparable sound HomePod or with a professional audio system. Apple however, it promises an unprecedented sound on a speaker of this size. 360º acoustic propagation ensures a full and clear sound from any angle of the room, with a deep bass and clear high sounds.
The four microphones are able to ignore the noise in the room and easily pick up voice commands, even if you are not nearby. HomePod mini.
HomePod mini will be on sale starting November 6, 2020 and is expected to be a product with very high sales.
