Apple HomePod mini review: Hover your iPhone over the mini to set up the speaker, and become 'smart'
Priced at Rs 9,900, it is the second smart speaker Apple has launched.
By Aabhas Sharma, TOI Contributor |
Agencies
Apple HomePod mini
GET IT FOR: Rs 9,900
HIGHLIGHT: Immersive sound quality
There is no escaping the fact that Apple was late to get on board the smart speaker gravy train. But, as they say, better late than never. And Apple clearly wants to fill the gap left by Amazon and Google. The HomePod mini is a step in that direction.
Priced at Rs 9,900, it is the second smart speaker Apple has launched.
The first thing that strikes you about the HomePod mini is how tiny and good looking it really is. It weighs 345 g, is 3.3 inches tall and 3.9 inches wide. The fabric mesh surrounding it comes in white and black colour options.
There are no buttons on the HomePod mini, instead, there is an opaque glass panel on top that can be used to adjust the volume. The power cable wrapped in mesh comes fixed to the HomePod mini, and it comes with a 20W USB charger.
Inside the HomePod mini is a single full-range driver and two passive radiators. Apple has put four microphones in the speaker that do a fine job at picking up voice commands, even when music is played loudly.
Setting up the HomePod mini is a breeze. All you need is an iPhone or an iPad; bring it close to the HomePod mini and it gets set up in a jiffy, after you answer a few setup questions.
One cool feature that HomePod mini brings is Intercom, which can be used to send voice messages to all iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches, AirPods in the household. Just say ¡§Hey Siri¡¨ to wake up the HomePod mini, and you are set to go.
As a speaker equipped to make your home smarter, HomePod mini is behind Echo or Nest devices. That's simply because a lot of third-party devices like smart bulbs, plugs aren't yet compatible with Apple's HomeKit.
However, when it comes to audio quality, the HomePod mini trumps every speaker in this size. We listened to a variety of genres of music on the HomePod mini and were really impressed by how it handled it all. The mid-tones sound really balanced and the lyrics sound as clear as they do on any speaker of this size.
HomePod mini is the perfect small speaker for those in the Apple ecosystem - it looks great and sounds excellent. What else do you need, right?
- The writer is with gadgetsnow.com
GET IT FOR: Rs 9,900
HIGHLIGHT: Immersive sound quality
There is no escaping the fact that Apple was late to get on board the smart speaker gravy train. But, as they say, better late than never. And Apple clearly wants to fill the gap left by Amazon and Google. The HomePod mini is a step in that direction.
Priced at Rs 9,900, it is the second smart speaker Apple has launched.
The first thing that strikes you about the HomePod mini is how tiny and good looking it really is. It weighs 345 g, is 3.3 inches tall and 3.9 inches wide. The fabric mesh surrounding it comes in white and black colour options.
There are no buttons on the HomePod mini, instead, there is an opaque glass panel on top that can be used to adjust the volume. The power cable wrapped in mesh comes fixed to the HomePod mini, and it comes with a 20W USB charger.
Inside the HomePod mini is a single full-range driver and two passive radiators. Apple has put four microphones in the speaker that do a fine job at picking up voice commands, even when music is played loudly.
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Setting up the HomePod mini is a breeze. All you need is an iPhone or an iPad; bring it close to the HomePod mini and it gets set up in a jiffy, after you answer a few setup questions.
One cool feature that HomePod mini brings is Intercom, which can be used to send voice messages to all iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches, AirPods in the household. Just say ¡§Hey Siri¡¨ to wake up the HomePod mini, and you are set to go.
As a speaker equipped to make your home smarter, HomePod mini is behind Echo or Nest devices. That's simply because a lot of third-party devices like smart bulbs, plugs aren't yet compatible with Apple's HomeKit.
However, when it comes to audio quality, the HomePod mini trumps every speaker in this size. We listened to a variety of genres of music on the HomePod mini and were really impressed by how it handled it all. The mid-tones sound really balanced and the lyrics sound as clear as they do on any speaker of this size.
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HomePod mini is the perfect small speaker for those in the Apple ecosystem - it looks great and sounds excellent. What else do you need, right?
- The writer is with gadgetsnow.com
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Apple, at its virtual 'Hi, Speed' event, unveiled four new iPhones equipped with technology to support the new 5G wireless networks.
In addition to the new variants of iPhone 12, priced between $700 to $1100, the Cupertino-based tech giant also launched a smaller and cheaper version of its HomePod speaker.
Apple also said it won't be including earbuds or power adaptors with the newest iPhones, since most customers already have these. That will reduce manufacturing and make boxes lighter to ship.
The company's environment policy chief Lisa Jackson said the move was part of Apple's efforts "to cut waste and use less materials."
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