Following the rumors that Apple was working on a smaller, cheaper version of the HomePod, it turns out that the rumors were right on the money because Apple has since officially taken the wraps off their latest smart speaker, the HomePod mini.
Unlike the regular HomePod, this is a considerably smaller version of the smart speaker featuring a spherical shape. It features the use of mesh fabric and comes with a touch-sensitive top surface which can glow and pulse with lights, as well as allow users to control the volume of the smart speakers.
While it might be easy to dismiss the HomePod mini as a smaller version of the HomePod, Apple claims that they have engineered the HomePod mini from the ground up. It features a full-range dynamic driver that they claim will be able to play music loudly but without distortion. There are also radiators that can improve on the bass response, along with an acoustic wave guide that helps the HomePod mini output 360-degree sound.
Apple has also included the use of the S5 chip with computational audio that can analyze your music as it is being played so that it can provide users with the best listening experience possible. As per the rumors, the HomePod mini also comes with a U1 chip that can detect when your iPhone is near, allowing users to hand-off music from their iPhones to the HomePod mini.
Given that this is a smart speaker with Siri integration, users can also expect to be able to control various smart home devices using their voice. There will also be a new “Intercom” feature that lets users send voice messages from one HomePod mini to another, along with the iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and even CarPlay.
Users will be able to link multiple HomePod mini speakers together so that they can create a multi-room listening experience, but it will also be smart enough to detect when two HomePods are in the same room together in which it will transform into a stereo set of speakers.
The HomePod mini will be priced at $99 and will be in two colors and will be up for pre-order on the 6th of November and will ship out on the 16th of November.
Filed in . Read more about Connected Objects, HomePod, IoT (Internet of Things), Siri and Speakers.