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The Verge’s hands-on report says Apple’s $149 HomePod Mini 2 responds to requests faster than the original, adds a setting to lock touch controls and comes in a favored new green color. The reviewer’s main disappointment was the Mac default-speaker feature; the supplied report cuts off before describing the test result. Apple’s promised Siri AI upgrade is also not available yet.
Apple’s $149 HomePod Mini 2 is noticeably quicker than the original at playing music and handling smart-home commands, according to a hands-on report from The Verge, but the reviewer’s main disappointment was the speaker’s new Mac feature. The assessment also notes that Siri AI is not available yet; Apple says the upgrade will arrive in a software update “later.”
The reviewer tested a pair of Mini 2 speakers in a home office over several days. In those tests, Siri typically responded in under three seconds: a Taylor Swift track began within a couple of seconds, and commands to turn off a light or open the shades took under three seconds. The reviewer compared that with waits of up to 10 seconds they often experienced on the first-generation Mini. The report credits the quicker performance to the new S10 chip, replacing the S5, and Wi-Fi 6E support, replacing Wi-Fi 4.
The faster responses do not mean the promised AI assistant is already part of the product. The reviewer found that harder questions still produced Siri’s familiar suggestion to view web results on an iPhone. For smart-home commands, the Mini 2 also often performs the action without the longer spoken confirmation the reviewer had heard from the older model. That quieter response was a separate improvement from Siri AI, which remains pending.
The report identifies three features the reviewer liked: quicker responses, the new green finish, and a Home app setting that locks the touch controls on top of a HomePod. The reviewer also said the unchanged speaker hardware still sounded good for its size, and that a stereo pair filled the office with sound. The report’s supplied text calls the Mac default-speaker feature its “signature feature fail,” but ends before giving details of the test or explaining exactly what went wrong.
Speed and Controls Matter Most
The report suggests the Mini 2’s clearest day-to-day gain is not a new sound system or the promised AI assistant, but less waiting for ordinary requests. Faster music playback and smart-home commands could matter to people who use a HomePod as part of daily routines, particularly those frustrated by delays on the first-generation device.
The touch-control lock addresses a different, practical annoyance: accidental taps that can start playback. Because the Home app setting applies to older and newer HomePods, the benefit is not limited to buyers of the new speaker. By contrast, the report describes Sound Glow—LED colors that match album art—as subtle and limited to Apple Music and Podcasts, making it a less substantial addition for this reviewer.
For shoppers weighing an upgrade, the assessment is mixed. The reported speed gains may be appealing, but the $149 price is $50 above the original’s launch price, and the speaker hardware was not updated. The article is a reviewer’s account of use, not a controlled comparison or a claim that every user will see the same response times.
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What Changed From The Original
The original HomePod Mini launched at $99, according to The Verge’s report. The second-generation model follows six years later at $149, with a newer processor, Wi-Fi 6E, updated colors and software features. The reviewer initially viewed the changes as limited because Apple had not upgraded the speaker hardware, but became more positive after using a pair at home.
Some additions extend beyond the new model. The touch-control lock is available for all HomePods, while Sound Glow also works with the first-generation Mini and second-generation HomePod, according to the report. The promised Siri AI upgrade, by contrast, has no specific release date in the source material beyond Apple’s statement that it is coming “later.”
““The biggest upgrade for the Mini 2 is Siri AI, but that isn’t available yet.””
— The Verge reviewer
The Mac Feature Test Is Incomplete
The source text stops mid-sentence while describing the HomePod Mini 2’s ability to serve as a Mac’s default speaker over what Apple calls a “responsive and persistent AirPlay connection.” It does not include the reviewer’s explanation of the disappointment, how the feature performed, or whether the issue was persistent. Those details cannot be established from the supplied material.
Apple has not given a specific date for the Siri AI software update in the report. It is also unclear from the source whether the faster response times measured by the reviewer will be consistent across different Wi-Fi networks, smart-home setups and households.
Awaiting Siri and Mac Details
The next software milestone mentioned is Apple’s planned Siri AI update, which the company says will come “later,” without a date in the source. The Mac speaker feature’s performance also needs fuller explanation: the supplied report does not include the test results behind the reviewer’s disappointment.
Until those details are available, buyers can judge the Mini 2 on the features described here: quicker basic voice responses in one reviewer’s home, touch-control locking, a new green color and unchanged speaker hardware. The report does not establish whether the Mac limitation or Siri AI timing will change.
Key Questions
How much does the HomePod Mini 2 cost?
The Verge report lists the HomePod Mini 2 at $149. It says the original launched at $99.
Is Siri AI available on the HomePod Mini 2 now?
No, not according to the report. Apple said Siri AI is coming in a software update “later,” but did not provide a date in the supplied material.
What improvements did the reviewer notice?
The reviewer reported quicker Siri responses, faster music playback and a new Home app setting to lock the top touch controls. They also praised the green finish and the sound from a stereo pair.
Did Apple upgrade the Mini 2’s speakers?
The report says Apple did not update the speaker hardware. The reviewer nevertheless described the sound as good for the speaker’s size and said two units as a stereo pair filled a home office.
What disappointed the reviewer?
The reviewer identifies the Mac default-speaker feature as the main disappointment. However, the supplied source cuts off before explaining the test result, so the specific problem is not clear.
Source: theverge.com
