This is because according to an Apple support document, it seems that the speakers will cost customers $79 to repair if you don’t have an AppleCare+ coverage. Given that a brand new model costs $99, it might actually seem like a better deal to just buy a new unit instead. However, with AppleCare+, it will cost customers $15 in an upfront cost, and an additional $15 per-incident fee for up to two incidents of accidental damage, which means that repairing the HomePod mini with AppleCare+ will cost you $30.
That being said, AppleCare+ isn’t free and we’re not sure who might think it’s necessary to purchase a coverage plan for a set of speakers, but it’s something to consider if you have kids at home who might be less than careful when handling the speakers. However, if you don’t buy AppleCare+, like we said, ultimately it might actually be a better deal to just buy a brand new unit if it gets damaged.