HomePod mini in the first test: The clever sound ball Outside: Ball instead of cone Other speakers New chip, new hardware The first HomePod targeted high-priced network speakers, such as those from Sonos. Despite the excellent sound with rich bass, Apple was unable to achieve resounding success: If Siri’s limited capabilities or the focus on Apple Music as the only streaming service did not deter you, the high price of 330 euros pale. Now Apple is launching a cheaper variant, similar to the iPhone or the Apple Watch: 96 Euro costs the HomePod mini – a bargain for Apple standards.

Outside: Ball instead of cone The HomePod mini, available in space gray and white, is 8.4 centimeters larger than a tennis ball and just half as high as the conical HomePod.

With 345 grams, the little ball is a flyweight; the big brother weighs 2.5 kilos. The HomePod mini is covered with a special mesh that should not distort the sound. On the top there is a touch-sensitive surface that lights up colorfully when Siri is active, just like on the large HomePod, reminiscent of the Siri waveform graphic in iOS. The touch area also houses the volume up and down buttons.

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