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Key Points:
- Both speakers feature powerful digital assistants that can help you perform tasks, create lists, check on the weather, etc.
- The HomePod mini can easily be linked to other Apple devices, such as AirPods and iPhones. The Echo Dot works with devices like Fire TV or Amazon Fire Sticks, and even some smart lights.
- Amazon’s Alexa is intended mostly for running your smart home and controlling Amazon products such as smart lights, thermostats, and appliances.
Apple’s HomePod Mini is being marketed as the best product to prevent your home from having a smart speaker “silo” effect, with features such as AirPlay 2 and Siri support. However, Amazon’s Echo Dot (4th gen) is widely considered to have better audio quality and more advanced skillset, such as compatibility with Spotify and Alexa-enabled devices. That’s why choosing between HomePod Mini vs Echo Dot can be difficult.
Both companies design their products to fully integrate into each user’s home environment and emphasize listening to music in high-quality environments. Choosing between these two products may require you to consider how you use your audio equipment and how important sound quality is for you. This guide focuses on the most important aspects of the HomePod Mini vs Echo Dot analysis.
HomePod Mini vs Echo Dot: Side by Side Comparison
Looking at the two products side by side, it’s clear that Apple’s choice of materials differs from Amazon’s. This comparison table will help you decide which product is more appealing to you. The specs are based on Amazon and Apple’s latest models.
| Specs | HomePod Mini | Echo Dot |
|---|---|---|
| Size | 3.3-by-3.9-inches | 3.5-by-3.9-inches |
| Voice Assistant | Siri | Alexa |
| Weight | 12.16 oz | 12.00 oz |
| Color choice | Space gray or white | Charcoal, glazier white, or twilight blue |
| Speaker technology | Full-range driver and dual passive radiators | 1.6-inch front-firing speaker |
| Services | Apple Podcasts, Apple Music, iTunes, TuneIn, Pandora, iCloud Music Library, iHeartRadio | Spotify, Apple Music, Pandora, TuneIn, iHeartRadio, Sirius XM, Audacy, and many more |
HomePod Mini vs Echo Dot: What’s the Difference?
Both speakers feature powerful digital assistants that can help you perform tasks, create lists, check on the weather, etc. Their abilities are more or less the same, except for a few minor differences between them.
Sound Quality
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HomePod Mini is a new speaker that Apple released in October 2020. It is also known as HomePod 2nd Gen., a successor to HomePod, launched in 2018. The sound quality of its music is much better than the first generation because it is equipped with a 7-tweeter array and a 4-inch woofer that produce clear highs and rich bass tones. Also, it supports high-resolution audio tuning and is now compatible with Apple Music. Even the output of the speaker has been improved.
The Echo Dot has dual speakers that deliver clean and crisp sound. It is a compact speaker that is equipped with two 0.8-inch tweeters and a 1.6-inch downward-firing bass driver. So, it can deliver deep bass tones and clear vocals. The Echo Dot supports Amazon Music, so if you’ve subscribed to this service, you can enjoy your favorite music using the Echo Dot.
In addition, it has the same audio output standard as other speakers available on the market, like the iHome iSP5 or Bose SoundTouch wireless speakers. The Echo dot also has an internal speaker that delivers 360-degree Omnidirectional audio. That’s why it can build an immersive soundstage regardless of where you’re sitting.
Design
HomePod Mini is a small spherical speaker with a wine glass profile. It has a touch surface on top and is equipped with three microphones, allowing it to recognize your voice and automatically identify the commands. Also, there are volume buttons on the side. The HomePod Mini comes with special sensors that can capture the room based on the direction it is facing, so if you want to adjust music volume based on where it’s being played, simply rotate the HomePod mini until you hear your changes.
The Echo Dot is an all-new smart speaker from Amazon that comes in loud colors, such as black, sandstone, coral, and stainless steel. It is contained in a round body with a diameter of 3 inches and a height of 1.2 inches. It has a small hidden speaker that is about 1.4 inches wide and 2 inches tall. The hidden speaker delivers crisp sound at 360 degrees around the device. In addition, the Echo Dot also has a built-in mic that allows you to use it as a Bluetooth speaker. What’s more, the base is covered with rubber for stability, allowing it to act as a bass port.
Compatibility
- PREMIUM SOUND – Rich, detailed sound that automatically adapts to any room. Supports lossless HD audio available on select streaming services such as Amazon Music HD.
- VOICE CONTROL YOUR MUSIC – Stream songs from Amazon Music, Apple Music, Spotify, SiriusXM, and more. HD requires a compatible music streaming service.
- SMART HOME HUB – Built-in hub to voice control compatible lights, locks, and sensors. Easily set up compatible Zigbee and Matter devices or select Ring Smart Lighting solar lights and bulbs.
- ALEXA IS READY TO HELP – Set timers, reminders, and alarms. Alexa answers questions like "Alexa, what time is it?"
- START YOUR ROUTINES WITH MOTION – Turn on compatible lights, play your Flash Briefing, or turn on the coffee maker when you walk into the room.
The HomePod mini can easily be linked to other Apple devices, such as AirPods and iPhones, because they are all Apple designs. If you want to pair your iPhone with your HomePod, simply open the Settings app on your iPhone and follow the instructions. Also, an iPad can be connected to the HomePod in order to control the music streaming on Apple Music. If you have an iPad or any other device that supports Bluetooth, simply connect it to your HomePod, and you will be able to stream music directly from these devices using AirPlay technology.
The Echo Dot is designed to work with many similar devices, including Fire TV or Amazon Fire Sticks, and even works with some smart lights. You can set up 6 Echo Dots throughout your home and connect them together. When you want to link two or more of them together, simply open the Alexa app on your smartphone and follow the instructions for connecting any two devices. Whichever device you choose, you will enjoy a simplified way of connecting with the digital world, as well as controlling your home.
HomePod Mini vs Echo Dot: Pros and Cons
| Pros of Echo Dot | Cons of Echo Dot |
|---|---|
| Bigger than the HomePod Mini, making it easier to reach | Has limited sound quality for its size and price |
| Can connect multiple Echo Dots together to make a virtual smart home hub, allowing you to control multiple devices from one remote location | Only one person can operate the Echo Dot at a time |
| Cheaper | Background noise can interrupt the microphone audio signal |
| Comes with a built-in speaker and Bluetooth connectivity |
| Pros of HomePod Mini | Cons of HomePod Mini |
|---|---|
| Superior sound quality | Mixed reviews from analysts and users alike |
| Easily connects to other Apple devices | Amazon Alexa is not integrated into the HomePod Mini, but you can connect with the Amazon Alexa voice assistant if you are already a member of the Echo family |
| Modern, sleek design | Costs $99, twice the price of the Echo Dot |
| Only available in certain countries at the moment |
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HomePod Mini vs Echo Dot: 6 Must-Know Facts
- Apple’s HomePod Mini doesn’t have Spotify, while Amazon’s Alexa-powered Echo Dot doesn’t support Apple Music.
- Siri-enabled devices like HomePod, Apple Watch, and Apple TV stream their data to Apple servers for processing. That information will be used to “improve Siri,” though it’s unclear what this entails.
- Amazon’s Alexa is intended mostly for running your smart home and controlling Amazon products such as smart lights, thermostats, and appliances.
- HomePod and the Google Home Max are the only smart speakers that allow you to make calls directly through Wi-Fi or a cellular network.
- Apple is the only company to let you switch between personal information and multiple user profiles on its device.
- The Google Assistant, which powers the Home Max, understands natural language better than Amazon’s Alexa or Apple’s Siri. According to CNET, The Assistant outperforms Siri and Alexa by consistently delivering more relevant answers from the Web and your phone.
HomePod Mini vs Echo Dot: Which One Is Best?
It seems that the HomePod Mini deserves to be called the winner. It has a lot more to offer, including better sound quality and the ability to pair two or more HomePod minis together for a richer sound. The Echo Dot should still be considered a suitable alternative, especially if you don’t need all of the bells and whistles, but if you can handle having an additional speaker or two in your home, the HomePod mini is really a better all-round speaker.
In fact, HomePod Mini triumphs over the Echo Dot in almost every way. It’s the complete package, offering various ways to connect and control it. Sure, the design isn’t as sleek as the Echo Dot, but if you’re after deep bass and crisp treble, you should definitely consider buying the HomePod Mini.
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