Close Menu
  • Guides
    • Televisions
    • Computers
    • Apps
  • Blog
  • Forum
  • News
    • Audio
    • Computers
    • Digital Cameras
    • Gadgets
    • BD/DVD
    • Gaming
    • Televisions
    • Mobiles
    • In-Car News
    • Internet
  • Round Ups
    • Tablets
    • testnews
    • Audio
  • Reviews
    • Mobiles
    • Apps
    • Televisions
    • In-Car
    • Gaming
    • Audio
    • Gadgets
    • Digital Cameras
    • BD/DVD
    • Computers
  • Home
Podcast

Two Blokes Talking Tech Episode 691 coming to you from Samsung’s Galaxy Unpacked event

By Stephen FenechJuly 10, 20250

Two Blokes Talking Tech Episode 691 with Tech Guide editor Stephen Fenech and EFTM’s Trevor…

Hands on with the Galaxy Z Fold7 – Samsung has finally nailed it

July 10, 2025

Samsung’s new Galaxy Z Fold7 and Z Flip7 take a leap forward in AI, features and design

July 10, 2025

Qantas confirms 5.7 million customers data was exposed but the hackers have not released any of it

July 9, 2025

LG unveils the latest xboom Bluetooth speakers developed in partnership with will.i.am

July 9, 2025

Get a head start by listening to Episode 652 of the top-rating Tech Guide podcast

July 8, 2025
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram YouTube
Tech GuideTech Guide
  • Home
  • Latest News

    Two Blokes Talking Tech Episode 691 coming to you from Samsung’s Galaxy Unpacked event

    July 10, 2025

    Hands on with the Galaxy Z Fold7 – Samsung has finally nailed it

    July 10, 2025

    Samsung’s new Galaxy Z Fold7 and Z Flip7 take a leap forward in AI, features and design

    July 10, 2025

    Qantas confirms 5.7 million customers data was exposed but the hackers have not released any of it

    July 9, 2025

    LG unveils the latest xboom Bluetooth speakers developed in partnership with will.i.am

    July 9, 2025
  • Reviews

    Add a whole dimension to your gaming with the Samsung Odyssey 3D monitor

    July 4, 2025

    We take a hands-on look at Samsung’s stunning new Smart Monitor M9

    June 27, 2025

    eero Pro 7 review – transform and supercharge your home wireless network

    June 16, 2025

    Tineco Carpet One Cruiser review – it’s easy to give your carpets a deep clean

    June 13, 2025

    Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge smartphone review – thin is back in with virtually no compromises

    May 26, 2025
  • Blog

    Would you believe the massive global IT outage could have been far worse

    July 22, 2024

    Hey Tesla the affair is over – I’ve now gone back to my ex

    August 4, 2023

    Why we should all do our part and download the coronavirus contact tracking app

    April 20, 2020

    It’s two years since I went solar and the savings have been enormous

    October 15, 2019

    Why we need to return to one on-field referee after massive NRL Grand Final blunder

    October 7, 2019
  • Apple

    Logitech’s Flip Folio can protect your iPad and keep you productive on the go

    July 6, 2025

    The podcast is turning 20 years old

    June 30, 2025

    Adobe’s new Firefly app for iOS and Android can generate images and videos with AI

    June 20, 2025

    Apple unveils new parental controls for kids and teens to ensure age-appropriate experiences

    June 17, 2025

    Watch the new F1 haptic trailer so you can feel the action in your hands

    June 12, 2025
  • Samsung

    Hands on with the Galaxy Z Fold7 – Samsung has finally nailed it

    July 10, 2025

    Samsung’s new Galaxy Z Fold7 and Z Flip7 take a leap forward in AI, features and design

    July 10, 2025

    Samsung confirms July Unpacked launch event and teases new AI camera technology

    June 24, 2025

    Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge smartphone review – thin is back in with virtually no compromises

    May 26, 2025

    Samsung Neo QLED 8K QN990F TV review – the pinnacle of home entertainment quality and performance

    May 19, 2025
Tech GuideTech Guide
Home»Apple»HomePod mini review – big sound and big features from a tiny smart speaker
Apple

HomePod mini review – big sound and big features from a tiny smart speaker

Stephen FenechBy Stephen FenechNovember 13, 2020Updated:November 13, 2020No Comments5 Mins Read
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email
95%
  • VERDICT
Pros
  • Small compact size
  • Impressive audio quality
  • Controls smart products
  • Excellent new Intercom feature
  • Affordable
Cons
  • Needs more Homekit compatible products

The new Apple HomePod mini is tiny but mighty and offers remarkable sound when you play your music as well as incredible versatility as an intelligent assistant and to control your smart home devices.

The new Apple HomePod mini might be small in size but it’s big on sound and big on features and can also connect to and control your home’s smart devices.

The unit stands just 8.5 centimetres tall and its dwarfed by its big brother, the original HomePod.

But don’t let the small size fool you into thinking It lacks power.

Quite the opposite.

It provides q room filling 360-degree sound and all of your favourite music and playlists. podcasts and audiobooks are just a voice command away.

On the design side, HomePod mini has the same seamless mesh fabric coating as the original HomePod and a small light display on top.

Powered by Siri, HomePod mini is an extraordinary digital assistant should you need a question answered, to make a phone call, set a timer or an alarm or message the entire family at home with the new intercom feature.

One of the most popular uses for the HomePod mini will be listening to music and that’s pretty easy with by asking Siri to play individual songs, artists, genres and playlists.

Naturally it supports Apple Music and offers access to your entire library and playlists just by asking HomePod mini.

That also extends to podcasts, radio stations and other music services.

And boy does the HomePod mini sound great.

Under the hood is an acoustic waveguide that channels the sound down and fires it down out of the bottom of HomePod mini – the result is a stunning 360-degree sound.

Through the Apple-designed drivers and you force-cancelling passive radiators, HomePod mini also delivers satisfying bass and nice high frequencies.

Even at high volume the sound is remarkably clean.

What does most of the heavy lifting is the Apple-designed S5 chip which enables computational audio to apply tuning algorithms 180 times a second.

This optimises the sound, loudness and dynamic range depending on where the HomePod mini is positioned in the room.

Later this year Apple will add another feature to HomePod mini called Proximity Control which allows you to hand off music to and from your iPhone to the HomePod by holding them close to each other.

This feature is expected to be part of a firmware update in the near future.

HomePod mini can also be used as a home hub to take control of your smart devices and also set various scenarios to activate multiple smart devices at your command.

This is all done through the Homekit app where the HomePods are registered and located along with all the other smart devices in your home.

Each HomePod and device is given a location to make it easier to specify the device you’d like to control using Siri.

Products that can be controlled will include lighting, smart plugs, thermostats and even door locks and garage doors

For example, you can say “Hey Siri, turn on the bedroom light” or “lock the front door” or “make the temperature 22 degrees”.

In our review we also tried the new Nanoleaf A19 smart bulb which uses new thread technology – an alternative to Bluetooth and similar to a mesh network for a more reliable connection and responsiveness.

With our voice we were able to control the light, turn it on and off and even change the colour just by asking Siri.

This bulb also has adaptive lighting which means the light temperature can mirror the current time day to keep you focused and not interrupt your circadian rhythms.

The Homekit app is where you can combine several smart products to create a different scene.

You might want to be able to turn multiple lights off at once when you go to bed.

or turn all the lights on when you get home.

These devices can all be grouped together and triggered by a simple phrase like “Hey Siri, goodnight” or “Hey Siri – I’m home.

Like the larger HomePod, HomePod mini can answer all of your questions and provide information in an instant – all you need to do is ask Siri.

But one of our favourite features has to be intercom which allows you to make announcements to individual HomePods add Apple devices or to all of them at once.

And you can make those announcements through one of the HomePods or HomePod minis, through the Homekit app, via your iPhone and even through Apple Watch.

After a few seconds your voice is heard to the designated speakers so you can now easily announce when it’s time to go, when dinner’s ready or if someone has a visitor.

HomePod mini is available in space grey and will be priced at $149 and go on sale on November 16..

VERDICT

The new Apple HomePod mini is tiny but mighty and offers remarkable sound when you play your music as well as incredible versatility as an intelligent assistant and to control your smart home devices.

Featured
Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
Stephen Fenech
  • Website

Stephen is the Tech Guide editor and one of Australia's most respected tech journalists. He is a regular on radio and TV talking about the latest tech news, products and trends.

Related Posts

Samsung’s new Galaxy Z Fold7 and Z Flip7 take a leap forward in AI, features and design

July 10, 2025

LG unveils the latest xboom Bluetooth speakers developed in partnership with will.i.am

July 9, 2025

SpinTel offering a lifetime discount on its two fastest NBN plans

July 8, 2025

Comments are closed.

100% Human
Tech Guide only publishes quality 100% Human content you can trust. AI has never and will never be used to generate any articles and reviews despite the rise of AI and the flood of AI-generated writing elsewhere. We also reject the use of our content to be used by AI in any form whatsoever.

Subscribe to Updates

Get the latest news from The Tech Guide.

Sign up for the weekly Tech Guide newsletter so you can stay updated and educated about the latest consumer tech news and reviews.
  • Home
  • Latest News
  • Reviews
  • Blog
  • Apple
  • Samsung
  • Home
  • Latest News
  • Reviews
  • Blog
  • Apple
  • Samsung

Add a whole dimension to your gaming with the Samsung Odyssey 3D monitor

We take a hands-on look at Samsung’s stunning new Smart Monitor M9

eero Pro 7 review – transform and supercharge your home wireless network

Tineco Carpet One Cruiser review – it’s easy to give your carpets a deep clean

Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge smartphone review – thin is back in with virtually no compromises

Samsung Neo QLED 8K QN990F TV review – the pinnacle of home entertainment quality and performance

Two Blokes Talking Tech Episode 691 coming to you from Samsung’s Galaxy Unpacked event

Get a head start by listening to Episode 652 of the top-rating Tech Guide podcast

Take the shortcut and listen to the latest episode of the Two Blokes Talking Electric Cars podcast

© 2025 Techguide. Designed by Multimediax.

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.