Apple HomePod mini
Exact average 78.6 · 4 printed, 15 estimated · printed scores only: 68
Image: Apple19 professional reviewers tested the Apple HomePod mini, and 12 recommend it. Most praised: sound quality and design. Most common complaint: controls and app.
Reviewed by CNET, soundguys.com, WIRED and 16 more
The catch: Siri is limited and non-Apple music support is thin.
15 of these 19 outlets print no score. We estimated theirs from the review text, then adjusted the estimates against the ratings outlets actually print (ours ran slightly low). An estimate is never higher than 92.
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What 19 critics said
Highest score first · all converted to 0–100- 82CNET
A good-sounding, compact $99 speaker that Apple fans will love and that the reviewer recommends to anyone invested in Apple.
Read CNET review - 68soundguys.com
A small smart speaker with surprisingly big sound that suits people already in Apple's ecosystem, with easy setup and multiroom support.
Read soundguys.com review - 60WIRED
Very easy and fun for Apple households, loud with strong bass, but the clarity is disappointing and rival speakers are smarter and cheaper.
Read WIRED review - 60ZDNET
Full, high-quality sound and handy Apple features make it a good pick for committed Apple users.
Read ZDNET review - 89est.Trusted Reviews
A tiny speaker that sounds far better than its size and price suggest, and the best-sounding smart speaker at this price, especially as a stereo pair.
Read Trusted Reviews review - 89est.CNN Underscored
After 17 days of testing, the reviewer calls the $99 speaker an easy choice for Apple users, with surprisingly strong sound and a much improved Siri.
Read CNN Underscored review - 89est.The Ambient
Strongly positive: the reviewer calls it the best-sounding mini smart speaker, with a useful Thread radio for HomeKit.
Read The Ambient review - 83est.Digital Trends
An opinion piece based on real use, in which a pair of minis with an Apple TV replaced the writer's soundbar for movies thanks to clear dialogue.
Read Digital Trends review - 83est.Good Housekeeping UK
A well-built, great-sounding small speaker that is easy to use and handy for Apple households.
Read Good Housekeeping UK review - 83est.iMore
Calls it a tremendous speaker for its size and price, but only for people already invested in Apple.
Read iMore review - 83est.TechRadar
Sound and setup are praised as excellent for the price and size, making it an easy pick for Apple households.
Read TechRadar review - 83est.Tom's Guide
A great-sounding, well-priced speaker for its size that suits Apple users.
Read Tom's Guide review - 83est.T3
The best-sounding small smart speaker, good value for people deep in the Apple ecosystem.
Read T3 review - 83est.Tech Advisor
Praises the sound quality as excellent for such a small speaker and a good fit for Apple households.
Read Tech Advisor review - 83est.The Guardian
A compact speaker that sounds great for its size and is the best new smart speaker for people fully in Apple's ecosystem.
Read The Guardian review - 77est.Engadget
A revisit finds the mini far more useful after software updates, with solid sound and Matter support, making it a better value for Apple users.
Read Engadget review - 74est.Erin's Audio Corner
The Apple HomePod mini is a capable, omnidirectional smart speaker that offers a pleasant sound for its size and price.
Read Erin's Audio Corner review - 71est.DXOMARK
Lab testing finds good tonal quality and even sound for such a tiny speaker, but a clear lack of bass, low maximum volume and distortion when loud.
Read DXOMARK review - 71est.Macworld
The reviewer finds it a good-looking, decent-sounding and fairly priced speaker, but one that falls short of essential because of weaker sound than the big HomePod and a limited Siri.
Read Macworld review
"Est." means the outlet printed no score, so we estimated one from its verdict and checked our estimates against ratings outlets print. How we check estimates
Watch a video review
- Erin's Audio Corner on YouTube ↗Counted in the score: 74
From YouTube channels we vetted by hand. Videos paid for by the brand are never listed.
What critics praise most
What critics dislike most
Other smart speakers critics rate highly
Also reviewed, not yet scored
- Apple HomePod (2nd generation) · 3 reviews so far
- Denon Home 400 · 3 reviews so far
Common questions
Is the Apple HomePod mini worth it?
Critics are divided: 12 of 19 recommend it. Siri is limited and non-Apple music support is thin.
Do critics agree about the Apple HomePod mini?
Broad agreement: scores range from 60 (WIRED) to 89 (Trusted Reviews), a spread of 29 points across 19 reviews. Most reviewers land fairly close together.
What do critics dislike about the Apple HomePod mini?
Controls and app (7 of 19 reviews), Call quality (2 of 19 reviews).
What is the best alternative to the Apple HomePod mini?
The Sonos Era 100 (critic score 89), top pick, narrowly.