HomePod Mini Review - Everything covered - Design, Setup, Audio, HomeKit, Thread & Privacy features
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- Опубліковано 17 лис 2020
- HomePod mini review
When Apple first revealed the original HomePod back in 2017, most people was taken aback at the price tag. But what you have to remember is that this was more than just a smart speaker. It is a high-end audio device that delivery’s impressive audio performance.
But now we have the HomePod mini which comes in at £99 and promises to deliver an impressive audio experience coupled with enough power to drive your HomeKit setup, HomeKit secure Video and the latest smart features from Apple.
⭐️ Unboxing and design 1.24
⭐️ Setup - 4:31
⭐️ Audio 5:07
⭐️ Siri - 9:15
⭐️ Intercom - 10:39
⭐️ HomeKit - 11:32
⭐️ Thread - 12:41
⭐️ Privacy - 14:53
⭐️ Wrap up 15:45
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#HomeKit #Smarthome #HomePodmini - Наука та технологія
Love the channel! Just subscribed. Getting my Homekit home up and running and it is nice to see a channel dedicated to this platform.
Thank for stopping by and subscribing! What devices do you have?
I'm really glad you plugged your podcast. It's exactly what I was looking for!
Been waiting for your review and Shane Whatley!
I suspect Shane will be around very soon with his awesome content
Best review on UA-cam! So much details
Thank you so much 🙏
Great review of ‘de OmePod mini’ 😛
Great feature with andof on the ohmpod!
Excellent! Thank you.
Just ordered 4 omepod minis. Can't wait for the igh-end audio they offer!
Very thorough review. Thank you.
Thank you 🙏
Very good video! Thanks! Waiting for mine :))
Thank you for watching! What is your delivery window?
The best review! The only one I have seen that talks about thread and privacy this device offers!!! Nice job
Thanks mate!
@@HomeKitAuthority always great content
Thank you man! You have been apart of this since the beginning of JR’s reviews
Love your videos
Awww thank you
Easily the most comprehensive review yet on UA-cam well done sir! Be interested to know how the stereopair compares to a single HomePod and also if you can Power via a PD power bank just because lol
Hi, first thanks! Appreciated!
The stereo pair is not bad, but I don’t think two HomePod mini achieve the same deep base as a single HomePod full size. I have heard you can power is via a power bank, but I have not been able to achieve it with mine
Spotify on homepod is now the decision in the hands of spotify itself. The SDK is there for them to use.
Thanks for the information
Outstanding!
Thank you 🙏
My Christmas present request from my parents and hopefully some smart bulbs, entering smart home era
Perfect Christmas presents
Hey Jon, absolutely love your UA-cam channel and look forward to new episodes! That said, I wondered if you were having issues with Siri Shortcuts working reliably on your HomePod since iOS 14.2? I’m having all kinds of issues with them only partially completing, or Siri saying this is taking longer than normal, or simply nothing happens at all. I’ve opened a case with Apple, but though I would check around... Thanks my friend!
Thanks for watching! Without you it would not be worthwhile!
I have not personally had issues, but I only have a few shortcuts myself running. Are all your devices updated? No beta? If not reset the HomePod and see if that makes a difference
Thank you for your excellent review. I was wondering if the regular HomePod also received thread support on Apple’s last iOS update and is it something that could be done through an update?
No, it does not have the hardware to support it
I know what my boyfriend is getting me now for Christmas!!!!
Make sure you return the favour
@@HomeKitAuthority oh I will for sure in more ways than one! He knows that’s
Nice one
Great video mate! As always 😃
Thank you so much 😊
Loved the video looks and sounds great. I can’t find anyone with stock I’m in the north west Whitehaven any idea we’re to get one Thanks.
Have you tried Apple stores. My local store has them. They didn’t yesterday, but I can pick up today
Thank you for the nice review I have one question can we connect the home pod mini with LG OLED TV with airplay2. I mean if play something in LG TV listen to output in the mini?
No, you need a Apple TV 4K
It’s a shame it can’t connect to Apple TV yet for sound I want two to use as a speaker setup and the big one for sub use at the rear
Love the omepod! But who is Fred ha ha
Classic!
@@HomeKitAuthority only teasing my man!
I know! We are all good
Can you intercom from phone to HomePod mini
The best hOMEKIT channel by far! You make amazing content!
Awwww thanks so much 🙏
Very thorough review. Most grateful. When people criticise Siri as not as good as other assistants; how much of this is a trade off around privacy, one wonders? Alexa & Ok Google LISTEN and collect every piece of data from the end user. This isn’t something I would relinquish for a "better" Siri. Your thoughts, Sir?
Apple privacy and Siri privacy is one reason I use Apple products and HomeKit
Been waiting for someone to critique the sound quality! I like my music so having a decent sound is a must. I do have a dumb question, do you have to have an Apple Music subscription or can you stream your library via HomePod/HomePod mini?
You can stream iTunes content to the mini via airplay
Great review. Just wondering, how would you compare the audio quality of a stereo pair of HomePod mini’s versus a single HomePod “original” on its own?
I have many original HomePods about my home and just weighing up if swapping one out for a pair of minis would be worth doing.
I was wondering the same thing. HomePods are often on sale for £200 in the UK, I already picked one up while on sale but I’m wondering if a stereo pair of minis is a better option for the money.
I still prefer the original HomePod for sound. Even when you stereo pair them, it’s still not the same. But it’s very close
See above
@@HomeKitAuthority Thanks Jon. I thought that might be so. I think I’ll stick to building my ever growing collection of original HomePods.
The original is just incredible and if you own one, which you do. Then you truly appreciate it’s not just a smart speaker. I think Apple has really not done great at marketing the device
In the promotional videos using intercom, there is an icon in the Home app where the + sign is. For some reason its not on my Home app. Where is it? Thanks
Do you have an HomePod and setup running iOS 14.2? You need to enable it and will appear
@@HomeKitAuthority I just got the HomePod mini. I’ll check to see what iOS it’s running. Where do you enable it?
@@atkinstuff this video shows you everything - ua-cam.com/video/s9a6ApnDe5k/v-deo.html
SIRI is not the BEST BUT GOOD enough for me I don’t need a super computer smart assistant from google or amazon TAPING my conversations / I LOVE HOW YOU talked about that in the VIDEO 👍🏾👌🏾👊🏾
It’s interesting that it connects over a 5 gHz WiFi band. Excited to cbdcm this out with Home Theater mode with Apple TV. I’ll be anxiously waiting for this one to release in my country...very anxiously.
It works with 2.4ghz aswell, error on my part!
@@HomeKitAuthority that’s good to know. Such a versatile device. Poised for smart home dominance!
@@myHomeKithome I was seeing this on my TV but I came here for the same reason as well. I feel like saying this doesn't actually connect via 5 Ghz.
I don't have one myself, but deduction and reasoning based off the fact that it runs on the S5 chip from the Apple Watch S5, which did 802.11n over 2.4 Ghz, I think this is exactly the same. I can't imagine they would have modded the SoC, nor also that they can unlock a 5 Ghz band in it, just because... let's say there's no power consumption limitations anymore.
It would be great if you could check this realistically, from your router or something and actually clarify or correct that statement for viewers. :)
@@bogdanst13 That’d a head-scratcher.
Amazing review. Which do you prefer? This or the original?
I prefer the HomePod mini for rooms like bedrooms or the kitchen. But the original is a great speaker for use with a TV or larger room
@@HomeKitAuthority yes that is what I was heading towards! Do you think thread will come to the older Homespod?
The original does not have the hardware so no it won’t.
@@HomeKitAuthority oh ok, thank you for the reply
Happy to help any time
Just so you know, you don’t actually need to use your phone to transfer calls to the HomePod if you’re near the HomePod and you hear the phone ring you can say “hey Siri, answer the phone
I have never tired this. I’ll be waiting patiently for a friend to call me at home now 😂
Yes it’s a nice feature
About the Thread support, is the HomePod mini the only apple device that supports it? Could there be an update for the original homepad to support it? or doe it need a special chip/wireless.
No, the original HomePod does not have the hardware
Does this Thread work automatically or do you have to set it up between devices?
Yes, if you have thread devices it just connects
Does it have a doorbell option like HomePod?
Yes
Does anyone know of a way to lower the default alarm volume?
As of now, no.
I was not clear on the HomePod Mini's ability to work with Apple TV or not. You seem to indicate that the original HomePod can work with Apple TV for an immersive stereo experience but that the stereo capability of the HomePod Mini is not as good, however, will it still work with Apple TV as complimentary stereo speakers?
The HomePod minis will work with a Apple TV 4K to provide stereo audio.
@@HomeKitAuthority Thank you
@@HomeKitAuthority my understanding is that the HomePod mini can be used as an AirPlay 2 target, but only the original HomePod can be used as ‘Default Audio Output’ - is that your understanding? I can’t test, unfortunately, as the latter also requires an Apple TV 4K, which I don’t have
@@mattcorey3145 That was my experience as well.
Is it possible to connect via 4G wifi ?
You could use a 4G router
Shame we cant get hold of them, out of stock everywhere no delivery until after Christmas 👎☹️
I have a feeling stock will get better closer to Christmas
It’s a shame it’s 802.11n and not wifi 6.
Why? What does it matter?
@@daringeric Due to some bad design choices (i.e. it was cheaper), every 802.11n (or AC) device on the 5GHz creates bandwidth constraints for all other devices whenever they communicate. they can only communicate by jamming the network (in a jittery way) whenever in use. This it has potential to interfere with real-time communication, in particular for VR or gaming. I use the Oculus Quest 2 with Virtual Desktop regularly. For this reason, all bandwidth devices are on my 2.4GHz network, leaving 5Ghz for modern OFDMA capable devices only. For that reason, I will not have it on my network.
For technical papers, google "802.11ax OFDMA". For general audience further info, google "wifi 6 multiplexing"
tl;dr it could cause nausea for people using VR headsets that are wirelessly connected to their computer.
Do you think the original HomePod could get Thread support via an update?
No, it does not have the hardware inside
Is it a Home Pod or Ohm Pod. 🤪
Finger prints, a concern??🤭
Yes, it could be for some. Not everyone is the same
Way too much confirmation bias on this speaker…it is mediocre at best…I bought one 2 weeks ago and am very disappointed