With Google Home and Amazon Echo selling like hotcakes, Apple is also working hard to design a smart home hub for the Siri ecosystem. Apple has therefore divulged information on its new HomePod Mini, but it’s a lot more than just a smart hub.
What Can the HomePod Mini Do?
During the October 13, 2020 Apple Event, the company revealed its brand new Homepod Mini. If you missed it, you can check out the full press release for the HomePod Mini over on Newsroom or watch the trailer below.
The HomePod Mini works as a speaker you can place anywhere in the home. They work fine by themselves, but the magic truly happens when you introduce several into your house.
When you place multiple HomePod Minis in different rooms in your home, you can set them all to play music at the same time. Each HomePod will ensure it’s in sync with the others, so you can have a seamless auditory experience as you walk between the rooms in your home.
If you tend to stick in one room, you can still make use of multiple HomePod Minis. When you put two of them close enough together, the HomePods work in tandem to provide stereo sound.
Apple has put a lot of work into ensuring you want these HomePod Minis in every room in your house. For instance, it can analyze a song’s wavelengths before it’s played to fine-tune its hardware for a better listening experience.
The audio from the HomePod Mini is designed to emit from the device at a 360-degree angle. This means you can place one anywhere in the home without muffling the speaker against a wall or furniture.
HomePod Mini also has Siri built into it. This means you can use the HomePod Mini to toggle smart devices, search for information, set reminders, and make calls. It can also detect when an iPhone is nearby and send it information based on what it’s doing.
Apple is also implementing a new feature called “Intercom,” which allows a user to broadcast a message to all connected HomePod Minis, iPhones, Apple Watches, AirPods, and CarPlays.
What Are the Release Details for the HomePod Mini?
If this sounds like something you need in your home, you’ll be happy to hear that each HomePod Mini comes with a very reasonable $99 price tag. This is fantastic news, as our review of the original HomePod did take issue with its price point.
If you want your own, keep your eyes on the Apple store on November 6, 2020, when preorders for the HomePod Mini opens. Come November 16, the HomePod Mini will release for everyone to purchase.
A Strong Entry for the Apple Ecosystem
Apple has ensured that equipping your home with HomePod Minis is both a tempting and affordable venture. With such great features at a fantastic price point, the HomePod Mini is poised to make waves within the Apple ecosystem.
If you missed the Apple Event, be sure to catch up on all the hot news that came with it. For example, the iPhone 12 made its grand debut with 5G functionality and a great price tag.