Audio · Apple Silicon · 2020
HomePod mini
A grapefruit-sized sphere at $99 that punched well above its size thanks to computational audio. Buy a pair and they pair into surprisingly convincing stereo.
Apple’s affordable smart speaker, with a 360° "computational audio" sound.
HomePod (2nd generation) (2023)
The colours
The HomePod mini is sold in a small rainbow of finishes, the whole set glowing together on the demo wall.
HomePod mini: key facts
When was the HomePod mini released?
The HomePod mini arrived on November 16, 2020.
How much did the HomePod mini cost?
The HomePod mini launched at $99 in 2020, about $120 in today’s money (approximate, US CPI).
What specs stand out?
Key specs: Apple S5 at 1 GHz, 1 GB RAM, 8 GB storage, Backlit touch top display.
Why does the HomePod mini matter?
Apple’s affordable smart speaker, with a 360° "computational audio" sound.
Full specifications
| CPU | Apple S5 · 1 GHz |
|---|---|
| Cores | 2 |
| Memory (RAM) | 1 GB |
| Storage | 8 GB |
| Display | Backlit touch top |
| GPU | — |
| Ports | USB-C power |
| Weight | 345 g |
| Dimensions | Softball-sized sphere |
| Operating system | HomePod software |
| Released | November 16, 2020 |
| Discontinued | — |
| Launch price | $99 |
How the HomePod mini compares to today
A 16 GB Apple Silicon MacBook Pro has about 16× more memory than this device shipped with.
At 1 GHz, the clock is roughly 3.2× slower than a single performance core of a 16 GB Apple Silicon MacBook Pro, and that is before counting cores, width and IPC.
This held about 2,050 modern phone photos, a respectable library even today.
Launched at $99 in 2020, about $120 in today’s money (approx., US CPI).
Method note: clock comparisons use frequency only; price conversions use US CPI.
Sources
Specs checked against Apple technical specifications archive, EveryMac, Mactracker, Wikimedia Commons image credits.
Did you know?
It hides a then-unused temperature and humidity sensor, switched on years later by software.
Related Audio models
Open the HomePod mini in the interactive archive →
Last updated: 2026-08-11