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 The speaker is a bit outdated now, but it remains an adequate speaker for its price, and it will continue to serve its purpose for several years.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

iOS 19 Mock WWDC25 Feature

iOS 19 Expected to Run on These iPhones

Monday March 31, 2025 5:28 pm PDT by
iOS 19 will not be available on the iPhone XR, iPhone XS, or the iPhone XS Max, according a private account on social media site X that has accurately provided information on device compatibility in the past. The iPhone XR, iPhone XS, and iPhone XS Max all have an A12 Bionic chip, so it looks like iOS 19 will discontinue support for that chip. All other iPhones that run iOS 18 are expected...
2024 iPhone Boxes Feature

iPhones Could Cost Up to $2,300 in the U.S. Due to Tariffs, Analyst Says

Friday April 4, 2025 9:30 am PDT by
U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced that steep tariffs will be applied to imports from many countries, starting April 9. The tariffs could have a significant impact on Apple, as the company assembles the majority of iPhones in China, and products imported to the U.S. from China will be subject to a 54% tariff. iPhone prices could increase by up to 43% in the U.S. due to the...
watchOS 11 Thumb 2 1

Apple Releases watchOS 11.4 With Sleep Alarm Update

Tuesday April 1, 2025 10:34 am PDT by
Apple today released watchOS 11.4, the fourth major update to the operating system that runs on the Apple Watch. watchOS 11.4 is compatible with the Apple Watch Series 6 and later, all Apple Watch Ultra models, and the Apple Watch SE 2. watchOS 11.4 can be downloaded on a connected iPhone by opening up the Apple Watch app and going to General > Software Update. To install the new software,...
iPhone 17 Pro 34ths Perspective

iPhone 17 Pro: New 48MP Telephoto Lens May Change How Zoom Works

Thursday April 3, 2025 5:11 am PDT by
Apple is reportedly planning a major upgrade to the Telephoto camera in the iPhone 17 Pro, and while it may seem like a step back on paper, the change could actually improve real-world usability, if one leaker's claims are anything to go by. According to Majin Bu, the iPhone 17 Pro will feature a new Telephoto lens with a 48MP sensor, up from the current 12MP sensor found in the iPhone 16...
iOS 18

Apple Seeds First Beta of iOS 18.5 to Developers

Wednesday April 2, 2025 10:11 am PDT by
Apple today seeded the first betas of upcoming iOS 18.5 and iPadOS 18.5 updates to developers for testing purposes, with the software coming just two days after Apple released iOS 18.4 and iPadOS 18.4. iOS 18.5 and iPadOS 18.5 can be downloaded from the Settings app on a compatible device by going to General > Software Update. We don't yet know what Apple is introducing in the iOS 18.5...
iPhone 17 Pro 34ths Perspective

iPhone 17 Pro Launching Later This Year With These 10 New Features

Sunday March 23, 2025 10:00 am PDT by
While the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are not expected to launch until September, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models as of March 2025: Aluminum frame: iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to have an aluminum frame, whereas the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro models have a titanium frame, and the iPhone ...
AirPods Pro Firmware Feature

Apple Releases New Firmware for AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4

Monday March 31, 2025 11:27 am PDT by
Apple today released new firmware updates for all AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 2 models. The new firmware is version 7E93, up from the 7B21 firmware that was installed on the AirPods Pro 2 and the 7B20 firmware available on the AirPods 4 and AirPods 4 with ANC. It is not immediately clear what new features or changes are included in the new firmware, but we'll update this article should we find ...

Top Rated Comments

pheonix320 Avatar
18 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
18 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
18 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
18 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
18 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
18 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)