HOMEPOD MINI: HUGE COMPUTATIONAL AUDIO IN A LITTLE PACKAGE

HomePod was introduced to much fanfare in 2018, but it was a smaller, more affordable smart device that consumers were crying out for.

Two years later, Apple has finally delivered, unveiling the all-new HomePod mini that unlocks exciting possibilities for Siri and the Apple ecosystem. Echo Dot and Nest Mini watch out: there’s a new smart speaker kid on the block!

INTRODUCING HOMEPOD MINI

At Apple’s Special Event this October, watched by millions of consumers and tech critics around the world, Tim Cook decided that the company should lead not with the introduction of the all-new 5G iPhone 12 range, but an altogether different device. The HomePod mini has been rumored for a number of years, designed to help Apple better compete with the likes of Google Nest Mini and Amazon Echo Dot - small, sub-$50 smart speakers that have changed the game and allowed consumers to build their own smart homes on a budget. In typical Apple style, HomePod mini arrived fashionably late to the party - more than two years after the launch of the original HomePod - which was controversial, to say the least. The original cost $350 at launch and struggled against competitively-priced offerings from Google, Amazon, and Facebook. Following low sales, Apple dropped the price of HomePod to $299 in the United States and has since offered sub-$200 promotions through resellers. Though HomePod is undoubtedly superior to the cheaper Echo and Nest devices, Apple’s pricing and marketing strategy meant the device has struggled to make an impact. With the introduction of HomePod mini, Apple could finally crack into the smart home sector.