Apple announces HomePod mini smart speaker for just $99

Apple today announced the new Apple HomePod mini smart speaker. As you can see from the image above, the HomePod mini features a new spherical design. At just under 3.3 inches tall, HomePod mini fits anywhere in your home. Thanks to custom Apple-engineered audio technology, S5 chip and advanced software, this smart speaker creates rich, nuanced sound that can fill a room.

Two HomePod minis can be paired together for stereo audio experience. Later this year, Apple will also enable UWB-based experience that will allow iPhone users to easily connect with HomePod mini. Six microphones positioned around HomePod allow it to pick up all the sound in a room.

HomePod mini delivers an incredibly rich and detailed acoustic experience, using computational audio to deliver peak performance. To achieve big sound out of such a compact design, the Apple S5 chip in HomePod mini works with advanced software to analyze the unique characteristics of the music and apply complex tuning models to optimize loudness, adjust the dynamic range, and control the movement of the driver and passive radiators in real time. The Apple-engineered full-range driver, powered by a neodymium magnet and a pair of force-cancelling passive radiators, enables deep bass and crisp high frequencies.

Applying the same acoustic principles used to deliver amazing sound in HomePod, HomePod mini features an Apple-designed acoustic waveguide to direct the flow of sound down and out toward the bottom of the speaker for an immersive 360-degree audio experience. This allows customers to place HomePod mini almost anywhere in a room and hear consistent sound. A three-microphone array listens for “Hey Siri,” and a fourth inward-facing microphone helps isolate sound coming from the speaker to improve voice detection when music is playing.

Apple HomePod mini will be available in Space Gray and White for $99 in November.

Source: Apple