Does HomePod Mini 2 Have Improved Sound: What Reviews Say

Apple recently released the HomePod mini 2, priced at $149 in the U.S., featuring advanced computational audio. While the official press release did not explicitly state whether the sound quality is better than the original model, early reviews from tech publications have provided a clearer picture.

• The new HomePod mini 2 was released last week with a U.S. retail price set at $149.
• The core speaker hardware remains similar, but the device now runs on a much newer S10 chip.
• Reviewers from CNET and Cult of Mac noted significant improvements in audio range, clarity, and bass.
• Siri responds much faster to basic commands, though advanced AI features are coming later.

Sound Quality Improvements Powered by the S10 Chip Both the HomePod mini 2 and the original model list a full-range driver and dual passive radiators for deep bass and crisp high frequencies on their specification pages. However, the second-generation speaker features an upgraded S10 chip, replacing the older S5 chip found in the original device, allowing for advanced sound optimization algorithms. According to CNET's Tyler Lacoma, the HomePod mini 2 delivers much better sound than its predecessor. During side-by-side comparisons streaming Apple Lossless audio, the new Mini 2 exhibited significantly greater range and clearer audio at identical volumes. Cult of Mac's Ed Hardy similarly praised the new model for sounding noticeably better, particularly highlighting stronger bass performance.

Faster Siri Performance and Future AI Updates Another unheralded benefit of the S10 chip is a substantial boost in Siri's response time for basic tasks. The Verge's Jennifer Pattison Tuohy reported that the speaker plays music and handles smart home commands much faster than the first-generation model, alleviating previous frustrations with response delays. This speed improvement currently applies to Apple's traditional Siri Classic interface. A more intelligent and personalized Siri AI experience will not arrive on the HomePod mini 2 until a future software update is released by Apple. Despite this limitation, the hardware upgrade offers tangible everyday benefits for users.