Why a HomePod Mini Could Be the Perfect Last-Minute Gift

If you’re still stressing over what to buy the Apple fan in your life, you might want to take a closer look at the HomePod mini. Apple’s diminutive smart speaker not only makes a great gift for a friend who lives comfortably in Apple’s garden, but new research suggests there’s a good chance they don’t already have one.

According to a new report from Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (CIRP), a shockingly small number of Apple customers own any kind of HomePod. While smart speakers are still far from mainstream among US consumers, the Apple HomePod came in third place at 12% after the Google Nest (18%) and the Amazon Echo (35%). Assuming there’s no overlap here, this suggests that 65% of Apple users own at least one type of smart speaker.

This Limited-Time Microsoft Office Deal Gets You Lifetime Access for Just $39

Sick and tired of subscriptions? Get a lifetime license for Microsoft Office Home and Business 2021 at a great price!

While the HomePod is built exclusively for use within the Apple ecosystem, it’s important to note that CIRP’s survey was exclusively among Apple customers. The Amazon Echo dominates the overall marketplace, but it was still surprising to see that three times as many Apple users rely on the Echo instead of the HomePod.

CIRP’s survey was also among new Apple device buyers, but that doesn’t necessarily mean those who have come to the Apple world for the very first time — merely those that purchased an Apple product in the quarter preceding the survey. This means the data includes both those who have come into the Apple world for the first time and those who upgrade their iPhone to the latest model every year.

This market gap reveals a massive opportunity: for many Apple users, the HomePod mini isn’t a redundant device — it’s the missing link.

The HomePod Advantage

Of course, if your friend already has an Amazon Echo or Google Nest, they may have no use for a HomePod of any kind, but if they already own an iPhone, iPad, and Mac with no smart speakers in their life, then the HomePod mini is an excellent place to start.

It also may be a good option if you’ve heard them express frustration with their current setup. Alexa can be annoying, and the new AI-powered Alexa+ isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. Plus, Amazon has its own share of privacy issues and other missteps, such as inadvertently spoiling Christmas surprises by blurting out information on incoming Amazon deliveries and “recommendations” for products you’ve already bought as gifts for your family members.

While there are valid complaints about Siri not always being the sharpest tool in the digital shed, there’s an advantage to its lack of AI — and we’re optimistic that Apple is taking its time with Siri 2.0 to avoid some of the potholes other voice assistants have fallen into. Siri won’t be spoiling Christmas surprises, and there’s no fear of it listening in on you to try and profile you or sell you stuff.

To be clear, the evidence that Amazon and Google do this is circumstantial and inconclusive at best, but Apple isn’t in the business of selling you ads or products, which means it has no motivation to spy on you. Apple doesn’t need to know your life story to turn off the lights, and for many, that peace of mind is the best gift of all.

It’s important to note that the current HomePod mini is unlikely to ever get the new Siri capabilities, but that’s something that many could consider a “feature” rather than a problem. Following Amazon’s debut of “Alexa+” this year, many users quickly reverted to the older and more basic “Alexa” voice assistant. The new Siri may prompt a similar response from folks who aren’t fans of chatty AI bots.

There’s likely a new HomePod mini just around the corner for those who are, but anyone who gets the current model today will still enjoy a solid speaker that also includes Matter and Thread to make it relevant as a home automation hub for years to come.

Siri has its flaws, but it’s also a remarkably capable voice assistant for everyday tasks like playing music, sending quick messages, setting timers and reminders, looking up basic information like news and weather, and controlling home accessories. It will almost certainly fail if you ask it to answer any general knowledge questions that requires more than reading the first line of a Wikipedia page, but it’s perfectly fine for getting things done around the house.

Elevating the iPhone Experience

HomePods are also the only smart speakers that integrate directly into the iPhone experience. If you ask your HomePod mini to send a message, place a call, or set a reminder, it will recognize your voice and perform that task in the appropriate app on your device. A HomePod mini is a great way to add things to your grocery list in the kitchen, where they’ll be dropped right in Reminders, or send iMessages to ask your spouse to pick something up on the way home.

There’s also Apple’s Handoff feature, a magical-feeling way to transfer whatever is playing on your iPhone over to the speaker simply by tapping the two devices together. Most Mac and iPhone users are likely already familiar with how well this works between their other devices, and the HomePod adds this extra touch for your music.

Another often overlooked feature of the HomePod is its use as an intercom. Multiple HomePods can be used to send messages between rooms in your home with nothing but your voice, but the real secret sauce is the ability to broadcast a message throughout your home when you’re out and about — a very handy feature if you have family members who aren’t answering their iPhones.

As CIRP notes, perhaps the biggest obstacle to the HomePod mini is the cost. At $99 it’s considerably more expensive than Amazon Echo equivalent — especially when those can often be found on sale for even less. Even though it provides noticeably better sound quality, that’s not always a priority in a speaker in this price range. Nevertheless, that could make it an even better gift for the Apple user in your life who may have ruled it out solely based on its price tag. After all, the best gift is always one that someone likes but wouldn’t necessarily buy for themselves.

The $99 HomePod mini: A Good Buy

If you’re looking for a gift that offers ‘Apple magic’ without the complexity of modern AI bloat, the HomePod mini remains the smartest way to round out a loved one’s ecosystem this holiday season.