The “smart” speaker sector is split between Google with its Nest devices and Amazon with its Echos. Apple, at a much lower percentage, is also toying with its HomePod mini, a significantly cheaper version of the missing “original” HomePod. Apple’s proposal must therefore compete with proposals such as Google Nest Audio. We will compare them to know their characteristics, differences and prices.
Includes HomePod mini and Google Nest Audio
|
Features |
HomePod mini |
Google NestAudio |
|---|---|---|
|
Dimensions and weight |
8.43 cm high x 9.79 cm wide and 345 grams in weight |
17.5cm x 12.4cm x 7.8cm and 1.2kg |
|
sound technology |
Wideband transducer and two passive radiators, 360º sound, computer audio for real-time sound adjustment, four microphones, multi-zone sound with AirPlay 2 and stereo pair compatibility |
75 mm (3″) woofer, 19 mm (0.75″) tweeter, three long-range microphones and multi-zone sound |
|
sound sources |
Apple Music, songs purchased from iTunes, iCloud Music Library, third-party music services, Apple Music live and on-demand stations, radio stations, Apple Podcasts, newsletters, and AirPlay streaming |
Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, Deezer and Chromecast streaming from other apps |
|
controls |
Touch: play/pause music or Siri, skip/rewind song, summon Siri, or volume up/down |
Capacitive touch controls (three touch zones) |
|
connectivity |
802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, Thread and ultra-wideband chip for nearby devices |
Bluetooth 5.0 and Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n/ac (2.4GHz/5GHz) |
|
Others |
Siri, AirPlay 2, five colors |
Google Assistant, Chromecast built-in and two colors |
|
Price |
99 dollars |
99 dollars |
Apple HomePod mini (2021), Smart speaker, Siri, 360º, Bluetooth®, WiFi, HomeKit, Home automation
Smart speaker – Google Nest Audio, Google Assistant, Voice Match technology
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Design: We start with the external physical appearance. The HomePod mini has a spherical design, much like the newer Echo Dot, while the Google Nest Audio looks more like a “tower” with rounded corners. Both proposals are covered in mesh and can be purchased in different colors, with more options available in the HomePod mini. Regarding the weight, the Nest Audio is the heaviest at 1.2 kg, while the HomePod mini barely reaches 345 grams. It is not a very relevant fact since they are not portable speakers, but it is worth bearing in mind if we are going to change it regularly.
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sound technology: Apple doesn’t provide too many details about the audio system included in the HomePod mini, but we do know that it has a wideband transducer and two passive radiators, as well as 360º sound emission. The Google Nest Audio has a 3-inch woofer and a 19mm tweeter. Regarding the microphones for voice assistants to listen to us, the HomePod mini offers four and the Nest Audio, three. Both can be sent via AirPlay (HomePod mini) or Chromecast built-in (Nest Audio).
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sound sources: The good integration of Apple devices with its services is well known, and in the HomePod mini it was not going to be less so, in this case with Apple Music. Although the company officially lets you listen to third-party music platforms, there isn’t much support from the companies. Regarding Google Nest Audio, it can be configured to play audio from sources such as Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music and Deezer natively
which is an interesting function. -
controls: HomePod mini and Google Nest Audio can control sound via touch controlsbut it’s more common to ask them to turn the volume up or down through their respective voice assistants.
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voice assistant: Even though Siri was a pioneering assistant when it launched with the iPhone 4s, has been relegated to the background due to the possibilities offered by other assistants like Alexa or, in this case, Google Assistant, which are more useful for requesting information or performing certain tasks. Even in compatibility issues.
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Price: HomePod mini and Google Nest Audio share the same RRP: 99 dollars. But it is true that there are generally more offers on the Google speaker and it is possible to easily find it cheaper.
Google Nest Audio VS HomePod mini, which one to buy?
The Google Nest Audio is one of the most interesting “smart” speakers on the market due to its sound quality and Google voice assistant, one of the most complete with Alexa. The fact that it can be set up using both Android and iOS devices is a good point in favor of versatility as many Apple users prefer to use the one with the bitten apple due to its wide compatibility and its good performance.
The HomePod mini should be the option to consider for users who are immersed in the Apple ecosystem since, in addition to integrating Siri to control home automation accessories, it has the function of a HomeKit standard. However, it is Siri its biggest drawback noticing stagnant, at least when configuring in the Spanish language. There aren’t as many accessories compatible with HomeKit as there are with Google Assistant, although I hope that will change soon with the arrival of Matter.
Both proposals are natively compatible with Apple Music, but if you use another service like Spotify or YouTube Music, the best experience will be in Google Nest Audio. On the other hand, the question of price. Although both cost 99 dollars, the Google option can usually be found at a discount, sometimes reaching half the price.
Apple HomePod mini (2021), Smart speaker, Siri, 360º, Bluetooth®, WiFi, HomeKit, Home automation
Smart speaker – Google Nest Audio, Google Assistant, Voice Match technology
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