HomePod mini vs. HomePod mini 2: Is It Worth the $50 Price Increase?

Apple’s long-awaited update to its compact smart speaker has arrived. Unveiled at the company’s “Welcome Home” event, the HomePod mini 2 breaks a six-year upgrade drought with a heavy focus on internal processing and artificial intelligence. While the exterior design remains largely identical to the 2020 original, the internal upgrades come with a significant price bump: the HomePod mini 2 retails at $149, a $50 increase over its predecessor.