HomePod mini 2 review & HomeView tidbits on the Smart Home Insider podcast
On this week's episode of the Smart Home Insider podcast, your host reviews the HomePod mini 2 and breaks down the massive new Amazon home lineup. Smart Home Insider Podcast After a six-year hiatus, HomePod mini 2 is here with a handful of new features. Unfortunately, upgraded audio isn't on that list. The new HomePod mini 2 can be used as a dedicated Mac speaker or in a four-speaker array for…
This week's Smart Home Insider podcast features a review of the HomePod mini 2 and an overview of Amazon's new smart home lineup. The HomePod mini 2 has been released after a six-year absence, but doesn't come with upgraded audio as expected. Instead, it boasts a faster S10 processor, Wi-Fi 6E, and a new Siri AI. However, Siri AI is not available at launch, leaving the device feeling incomplete.
On the bright side, the S10 processor makes the speaker faster and more responsive. Meanwhile, Amazon unveiled five new smart home devices at an event in New York City. These include the Echo Dot, Echo Time, Echo Show 16, Echo Studio with Home Camera, and the Alexa Photo Frame. All of these products support Matter and Thread, and are currently available, with the Echo Show 16 coming later in 2026.
Other companies like Matic, SwitchBot, Signify, and Ecobee also made announcements. Matic released the Serene robot vacuum, which is 20% quieter and offers an upgrade option for existing bots. SwitchBot introduced an AI art frame with increased on-device storage. Signify updated the Philips Hue app with AI-powered automations, allowing users to describe their desired outcomes and receive automated solutions.
Lastly, Ecobee unveiled a new AI home summary feature that provides a daily overview of security, comfort, weather, and equipment operation, all free of charge for existing users.
Written by urgent.news from AppleInsider's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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