The HomePod Mini is official! At the keynote dedicated to iPhone 12, Apple lifted the veil on a first connected speaker at a discounted price. Release date, prices, news… We take stock of all the information available.
Remember, in 2018, Apple was entering the HomePod connected speaker market. Aimed at music lovers, the enclosure was sold for 349 euros when it was released in France. Despite its strengths, the HomePod did not meet the expected success, forcing Apple to lower the price of the accessory to 329 euros. This remained a relatively high price in the face of competition.
Determined to compete with Google and Amazon, the two leaders in the smart speaker industry, Apple has developed a more affordable version of its HomePod. Called HomePod Mini, the speaker aims to appeal to users scalded by the high price of the original HomePod. The Californian brand took advantage of the presentation keynote of the iPhone 12 to unveil this new version of its HomePod.
Read also: HomePod Mini, Apple opts for a design similar to the latest Amazon Echo
What’s new in the HomePod Mini
On the design side, Apple opts for a spherical construction that is reminiscent of the latest Echo Dot speakers from rival Amazon. Among the main new features of the HomePod Mini, Apple has obviously worked on sound rendition, aided by the integration of the S5 chip. With this component, the HomePod Mini is able to adjust the sound 180 times per secondto provide better listening comfort.
The device can be paired with other HomePods in the house,so that it can play a single piece anywhere in the foyer. It also has a new feature that allows all home users to communicate with each other. Called “Intercom,” this feature offers a good way to send a message to all people in one household. The message also appears on the network’s iPhones, iPads and Apple Watches. On the other hand, on these devices, they are not read immediately aloud, so that everyone can keep his peace.
On the vocal assistant side, we obviously find Siri to accompany us in all our daily tasks. As for services, Apple assures that its accessory will support music services such as Amazon Music,Pandora, and iHeartRadio, but these will arrive later in the year. Note that Spotify and Deezer seem to be the two big absentees from the services supported by the HomePod Mini.
Release date and price
Apple will open pre-orders for the HomePod Mini on November 6,with an estimated delivery date of November 16, 2020. The speaker is priced at $99. Its euro fare is not yet known. A really affordable price, which places the small connected speaker on par, or almost, with the competition.
