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Comparison

HomePod mini 2 vs HomePod (2nd generation)

Decide whether you are buying a hub or a speaker. As a home hub the two do the same job, so HomePod mini 2 at £149 is the one to buy. The HomePod (2nd generation) at £349 is for when the speaker itself is the point.

HomePod mini 2HomePod (2nd generation)

Added October 16, 2026

Side by side

 HomePod mini 2HomePod (2nd generation)
BrandAppleApple
ConnectivityMatter, Thread, Wi-Fi, BluetoothMatter, Thread, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
Hub requiredNoNo
Apple UK price£149, available from 30 October 2026£349 (£299 Apple Certified Refurbished)
Home hubYesYes
ThreadThread networking technologyThread networking technology
Built-in sensorsTemperature and humidityTemperature and humidity, accelerometer
MicrophonesThree, for far-field SiriFour, for far-field Siri, plus an internal low-frequency calibration microphone
Size and weight84.3 mm high, 97.9 mm wide, 335 g168 mm high, 142 mm wide, 2.3 kg
Home theatre surround with Apple TV 4K (4th generation)Yes, four speakers in matching pairsYes, four speakers in matching pairs
Stereo pairWith a second HomePod mini 2With a second HomePod (2nd generation)
ChipS10S7
Wi-FiWi-Fi 6E (802.11ax)802.11n Wi-Fi
BluetoothBluetooth 6Bluetooth 5.0
ColoursWhite, pink, green, blue, midnightMidnight, white
Where to buyBuy at AppleBuy at Apple

The rows below the catalogue data are read from www.apple.com/homepod-mini, www.apple.com/homepod, www.apple.com/homepod, www.apple.com/homepod-mini, www.apple.com/homepod-2nd-generation, www.apple.com/specs, www.apple.com/specs, www.apple.com/apple-unveils-the-new-apple-tv-4k, www.apple.com/apple-announces-the-next-generation-of-homepod-mini and www.apple.com/apple-introduces-the-new-homepod-with-breakthrough-sound-and-intelligence.

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Check whether you are buying a hub or a speaker

As a home hub, these two do the same job. Both become a home hub when you set them up, both have Thread networking technology for HomeKit- and Matter-enabled Thread accessories, both have a temperature and humidity sensor you can use in automations, and both listen for smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and alert your iPhone.

So the £200 between them buys the speaker, not the smart home. If the HomePod is going on a shelf to run the house, buy the HomePod mini 2.

What the HomePod (2nd generation) gives you

It is much the bigger speaker: 168 mm high and 2.3 kg, against 84.3 mm and 335 g for the mini. It has four microphones for far-field Siri where the mini has three, plus an internal low-frequency calibration microphone, and it has an accelerometer, which Apple does not list for the mini.

It is also the one you can have now. HomePod mini 2 is on pre-order, available from 30 October.

What the HomePod gives up

  • Newer radios. It has 802.11n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.0. The mini has Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 6, and the newer S10 chip against the HomePod’s S7.
  • Siri AI. Apple has announced Siri AI for HomePod mini 2, in English including the UK, via a future software update. If that matters to you, the mini is the model Apple has named.
  • Price. The HomePod went on sale in February 2023 at £299 and is £349 now. Apple’s UK refurbished store lists it at £299, which takes the gap down to £150.

What the mini gives up

Mainly size: the fourth microphone, the accelerometer and the bulk that comes with a 2.3 kg speaker. If the speaker itself is what you are paying for, that is what the extra money buys. The hub role is identical.

Surround and stereo

Both work in Apple’s four-speaker home theatre surround set-up, in matching pairs front and rear, with an Apple TV 4K (4th generation). Four minis cost £596 and four HomePods £1,396, before the Apple TV 4K itself at £299.

A stereo pair needs two of the same model and generation, so you cannot pair one of each. Two minis cost £298; two HomePods cost £698.

Which to buy

Buy HomePod mini 2 if the main job is the hub. It does everything the HomePod does for Apple Home at £149, it has the newer radios, and it is the one Apple has named for Siri AI. It is also the first thing on our Apple Home starter kit list.

Buy HomePod (2nd generation) if you want the bigger speaker and the hub comes with it. Check the refurbished price before paying £349.

You need one hub, not one of each. For how HomePod compares with HomeView and Apple TV 4K as a hub, see which Apple home hub you need.

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