Is the HomePod Mini a Good Gift Still? Here's What to Consider

At $99 in the U.S., the HomePod mini is a more affordable gift option for Apple enthusiasts. However, the speaker was released just over four years ago, so you may be wondering if it is still worth purchasing or if you should hold off.

homepod mini thumb feature
Below, we outline three things to take into consideration.

First, there have been rumors about a HomePod mini 2, but none of them are recent.

The firmest rumor came from Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Back in February 2023, he said mass shipments of a new HomePod mini would begin in the second half of 2024. However, heading into the final month of the year, it is unclear if that production has actually started or if it will soon. There has been no talk about a HomePod mini 2 being imminent, so a launch seems unlikely until 2025 at the earliest, barring a surprise announcement.

Kuo did not reveal any new features planned for the next HomePod mini, but potential upgrades could include a newer chip for improved audio, a second-generation Ultra Wideband chip for a lower-latency Handoff experience, and new color options. The current HomePod mini is equipped with an S5 chip and a U1 chip.

While the HomePod mini has received no major hardware upgrades since it was released in November 2020, Apple has refreshed its color options a few times. The speaker was released in Blue, Orange, and Yellow in November 2021, and Space Gray was replaced with a virtually-identical Midnight finish in July of this year.

The second thing to take into consideration is that Apple reportedly plans to release an all-new smart home hub as early as March 2025. The hub is expected to feature around a 6-inch display that can be attached to a tabletop base with a speaker, so the device could essentially be a more useful alternative to the HomePod mini. It has been predicted that the hub could be priced in the $199 to $299 range, so an Apple gift card that someone could use towards that device next year is another idea to consider.

Third, Siri is widely considered to be an inferior digital assistant compared to the likes of Amazon's Alexa and Google's Assistant. It's something to keep in mind depending on how much your giftee plans to use voice commands.

If you do go ahead with gifting a HomePod mini this year, that is a fine choice too. The speaker is a bit outdated now, but it remains an adequate speaker for its price, and it will continue to serve its purpose for several years.

Related Roundup: HomePod mini
Buyer's Guide: HomePod Mini (Caution)

Popular Stories

Generic iOS 19 Feature Mock Light

iOS 19 Will Bring Biggest Design Overhaul Since iOS 7

Monday March 10, 2025 12:17 pm PDT by
Apple is planning for a major design overhaul of the iPhone, iPad, and Mac interfaces with the introduction of iOS 19, iPadOS 19, and macOS 16 later this year, reports Bloomberg. The update will "fundamentally change" the look of Apple's operating system, introducing a more consistent cross-platform experience. Apple plans to update the style of icons, menus, apps, windows, and system...
ios 18 4 carplay

Apple Upgrades CarPlay in Two Ways

Wednesday March 12, 2025 6:05 am PDT by
The upcoming iOS 18.4 update for the iPhone includes a smaller but meaningful improvement for Apple's in-car iPhone mirroring system CarPlay. Specifically, CarPlay now shows a third row of icons, up from two rows previously. However, this change is only visible in vehicles with a larger center display. For example, a MacRumors Forums member noticed the change in a Toyota Tundra with a...
Apple One Apps Feature 2

Apple One's Best Plan Now Includes Two More Perks For Free

Monday March 10, 2025 6:40 am PDT by
Apple One allows you to subscribe to up to six Apple services for one discounted monthly price. There are three Apple One tiers: Individual, Family, and Premier. Over the last month, the highest-end ‌Apple One‌ Premier plan has gained two additional perks. Here is what Apple One Premier already included, for $37.95 per month:Apple Music Apple TV+ Apple Arcade Apple News+ Apple Fitness+...
airpods pro 2 gradient

AirPods Pro 3 Launch Now Just Months Away: Here's What We Know

Tuesday March 11, 2025 3:26 am PDT by
Despite being released over two years ago, Apple's AirPods Pro 2 continue to dominate the wireless earbud market. However, with the AirPods Pro 3 expected to launch in 2025, anyone thinking of buying Apple's premium earbuds may be wondering if the next generation is worth holding out for. Apart from their audio and noise-canceling performance, which are generally regarded as excellent for...
iOS 18

12 New Things Your iPhone Can Do in iOS 18.4

Monday March 10, 2025 9:28 am PDT by
Apple is set to release iOS 18.4 in early April, bringing further refinements to Apple Intelligence features, a neat new capability to iPhone 15 Pro devices, new emoji, and more. While not quite as packed with new features as Apple's preceding iOS 18 point releases, iOS 18.4 still introduces enhancements that aim to make your iPhone smarter and more intuitive. Below, we've listed 12 new...
iphone 17 mockups idevicehelp

Video Shows iPhone 17 Mockups Based on 'Internal Documents'

Monday March 10, 2025 4:41 am PDT by
YouTuber iDeviceHelp on Friday posted a video that shows off mockups of Apple's forthcoming iPhone 17 models that are purportedly based on "internal documents." We're sharing the video here since it was made in collaboration with leaker Majin Bu, who last month published similar iPhone 17 renders that were widely corroborated by separate leakers with links to Apple's Chinese supply chain....
iOS 18

iOS 18.3.2 Update Coming Soon for iPhones

Monday March 10, 2025 7:25 am PDT by
Apple employees are internally testing iOS 18.3.2 for iPhones, according to our website's visitor logs, which have been a reliable indicator of upcoming iOS versions. The software update should be released in the next week or two. iOS 18.3.2 will be a minor update that addresses software bugs and/or security vulnerabilities. Don't expect any new features. iOS 18.3.2 will be an interim...
Apple Maps vs Google Maps Feature

iOS 18.4 Adds a Highly-Requested Setting to iPhones — But Not in U.S.

Wednesday March 12, 2025 1:05 pm PDT by
iPhones are finally getting a much-requested setting, but availability is limited. The upcoming iOS 18.4 update introduces an option to set a default navigation app, other than Apple Maps, but unfortunately this new setting is limited to users in the EU. There, you can now set an app like Google Maps or Waze as your default navigation app on the iPhone by opening the Settings app and tapping ...
iOS 18

Apple Releases iOS 18.3.2 With Bug Fixes

Tuesday March 11, 2025 10:33 am PDT by
Apple today released iOS 18.3.2 and iPadOS 18.3.2, minor updates for the iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 operating systems that came out last September. iOS 18.3.2 and iOS 18.3.2 come a month after Apple released iOS 18.3.1 and iPadOS 18.3.1. The new software can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to Settings > General > Software Update. According to Apple's release...

Top Rated Comments

pheonix320 Avatar
15 weeks ago
when my HomePod mini is playing music or a podcast, if I ask it to turn the volume up, it always responds with:
“I’ll speak louder”

It won’t do the most basic functions
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
con2apple Avatar
15 weeks ago
No, no and no again.

The article doesn't say whether the HomePod mini is a good choice. The article helps to keep you unhappy as a reader. Addicted to the latest products and always spending money.

You want to know if the HomePod mini is a good gift?
First of all, it is an inexpensive HomeKit control center. The successor will be more cost more.
Secondly, it's a nice speaker that can do just that: Play music. Both via Internet or with AirPlay.
It is available in many colors and therefore fits into almost any interior.
The HomePod mini has a temperature and humidity sensor for IFTT.

Is it what you or the recipient want or what he would be happy with?
Then buy.

Don't hope for something that doesn't yet exist.
Hopes and expectations will only make you unhappy. It doesn't matter whether you buy the new device or the old one.

Don't buy the latest product, which is often described as obsolete by Macrumors even before release. Buy what suits your needs.
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Mrkevinfinnerty Avatar
15 weeks ago

No, no and no again.

The article doesn't say whether the HomePod mini is a good choice. The article helps to keep you unhappy as a reader. Addicted to the latest products and always spending money.

You want to know if the HomePod mini is a good gift?
First of all, it is an inexpensive HomeKit control center. The successor will be more cost more.
Secondly, it's a nice speaker that can do just that: Play music. Both via Internet or with AirPlay.
It is available in many colors and therefore fits into almost any interior.
The HomePod mini has a temperature and humidity sensor for IFTT.

Is it what you or the recipient want or what he would be happy with?
Then buy.

Don't hope for something that doesn't yet exist.
Hopes and expectations will only make you unhappy. It doesn't matter whether you buy the new device or the old one.

Don't buy the latest product, which is often described as obsolete by Macrumors even before release. Buy what suits your needs.
The new one comes in midnight though




Attachment Image
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
macmac30 Avatar
15 weeks ago

when my HomePod mini is playing music or a podcast, if I ask it to turn the volume up, it always responds with:
“I’ll speak louder”

It won’t do the most basic functions
EXACTLY!!! I often wonder, who in the hell is in charge of programming this thing? Do they even use it in their homes??? 99.9% of the time, I want to play music louder or softer. I am left confused when I say "Siri, volume up" and she responds with "I'll speak louder..." WTF Apple???
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
numenorian Avatar
15 weeks ago
Solid airplay speaker for the price, but IMO worthless as a "smart" speaker. Way behind what Siri can do on your phone and obviously that will only get worse as Apple Intelligence progresses.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Apple247 Avatar
15 weeks ago
The engineers have been working feverishly since June to add the new Siri edge glow, which will be the only new feature. There will be Kim K editions in various skin tones. And Apple will delay the release to coincide with iOS 19.4.

(jk obv)
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)