Add to Chrome
Add to Edge
Add to Firefox
Add to Opera
Add to Brave
Add to SafariFind the best product and price, effortlessly.
Discover deals on the best products
We do the research. You save the money.
Opt out anytime
Loading
See Top Ranked Smart SpeakersGoogle Home Mini (2017) vs Apple HomePod (2018)
See our analysis
Analysis:
The Google Home Mini (2017) was loved by reviewers at Tom's Guide, a highly trusted source that performs reliable in-depth testing. It did great in its "Best Home Depot Father's Day sales 2020" roundup where it was named its "Ranked 2 out of 7", which, in itself, makes it a product worth considering.
As for the Apple HomePod (2018), it was really well-received by reviewers at Consumer Reports, a reliable source that's known for conducting its own, high-quality, in-depth testing. It performed great in its "Best Apple HomeKit Devices for Your Smart Home" roundup and was named its "Best Smart Speaker", which, on its own, makes it a product that warrants a closer look.
Out of the sources that tested and rated both of these Smart Speakers, CNET, Tom's Guide, and Techradar preferred the Google Home Mini (2017), whereas reviewers at What Hi-Fi? liked the Apple HomePod (2018) better. Expert Reviews, techadvisor.com, TrustedReviews, slashgear.com, and PCmag gave them identical review scores.
We also took a look at which sources liked these products best - the highest Google Home Mini (2017) rating came from livingetc.com, whereas the Apple HomePod (2018) most impressed reviewers at What Hi-Fi?; they earned scores of 9 and 10, respectively.
Lastly, we averaged out all of the reviews scores that we could find on these two products and compared them to other Smart Speakers on the market. We learned that both of them performed far better than most of their competitors - the overall review average earned by Smart Speakers being 7.4 out of 10, whereas the Google Home Mini (2017) and Apple HomePod (2018) managed averages of 8.0 and 7.7 points, respectively.
Due to the difference in their prices, however, it's important to keep in mind that a direct Google Home Mini (2017) vs. Apple HomePod (2018) comparison might not be entirely fair - some sources don't take value for money into account when assigning their scores and therefore have a tendency to rate more premium products better.
Tech. Specs Comparison
Google Home Mini (2017)
Apple HomePod (2018)
Supports Alexa
No
No
Supports Google Assistant
Yes
No
Supports Siri
No
Yes
Reddit Threads (9)
in "Headset kinda stays warm when plugged in and not in use w/ compute off..."
Last updated: 17 Mar 2020
in "[Just Chatting] How do you guys listen to music/podcasts to aid sleep?"
Last updated: 12 Mar 2020
in "Chromecast as an alarm?"
Last updated: 10 Mar 2020
in "It's the remix to ignition"
Last updated: 8 Mar 2020
in "Is it just me, or is Alexa getting progressively LESS intelligent?"
Last updated: 26 Feb 2020
in "Anybody rocking full Google ecosystem?"
Last updated: 19 Feb 2020
in "I need lists to survive"
Last updated: 9 Feb 2020
in "Google Home Max - Impressed"
Last updated: 13 Dec 2018
in "Google Home Mini might be the best $40 I've ever spent!"
Last updated: 23 Nov 2017
See fewer
Reddit Threads (7)
in "/r/Homegym - Weekly Free-talk - September 25, 2020"
Last updated: 27 Sep 2020
in "Current setup, i think i’m in love."
Last updated: 14 Jul 2020
in "Daily Tech Support Thread - [May 28]"
Last updated: 28 May 2019
in "Weekly /r/Gadgets Advice Superthread!"
Last updated: 9 Jul 2018
in "/r/Homegym - Weekly Free-talk - September 25, 2020"
Last updated: 27 Sep 2020
in "/r/Homegym - Weekly Free-talk - September 25, 2020"
Last updated: 27 Sep 2020
in "Free Chat Friday - post on any topic in this thread!"
Last updated: 10 Jul 2020
See fewer
Sentiment analysis from Youtube reviewers
See fewer
Sentiment analysis from Youtube reviewers
—
No Data
Has average expert review score
7.5
Overall Avg. for Smart Speakers
8.0
Avg. Review Score
Score
Has average expert review score
7.5
Overall Avg. for Smart Speakers
7.7
Avg. Review Score
Score
Recommended by trusted experts
Highly Trusted SourceDepth of
analysis
analysis
Yes
In-house
Testing
Testing
Runner Upin “Best Home Depot Father's Day sales 2020”
Last updated: 28 Jun 2022
Highly Trusted SourceDepth of
analysis
analysis
Yes
In-house
Testing
Testing
in “The Best Tech We Bought in 2018”
Last updated: 6 Nov 2018
Trusted SourceDepth of
analysis
analysis
Yes
In-house
Testing
Testing
Runner Upin “What are the best books to read along with Disney on Google Home?”
Last updated: 25 Jun 2019
Trusted SourceDepth of
analysis
analysis
Yes
In-house
Testing
Testing
Runner Upin “The best gifts under $50/£50”
Last updated: 14 Dec 2018
Trusted SourceDepth of
analysis
analysis
Yes
In-house
Testing
Testing
in “The best Google products for home, work and play”
Last updated: 2 Dec 2020
Trusted SourceDepth of
analysis
analysis
Yes
In-house
Testing
Testing
in “Great Father's day tech gifts under £50”
Last updated: 14 Mar 2023
buzzfeed.com
-
Depth of
analysis
analysis
No
In-house
Testing
Testing
in “31 Of The Best Practical Gifts To Get At Walmart”
Last updated: 7 Dec 2019
Highly Trusted SourceDepth of
analysis
analysis
Yes
In-house
Testing
Testing
in “Best White-Noise Machines”
Last updated: 2 Sep 2019
Trusted SourceDepth of
analysis
analysis
Yes
In-house
Testing
Testing
The Google Home Mini is like having a simple, hands-free Assistant around the house. It can help you keep track of the weather, tell you jokes, and the like. But most importantly, it can also play several ambient sounds to help you relax throughout the day, and even as you sleep. These sounds do loop, allowing them to play for up to 12 hours non-stop if you desire.in “Best White Noise Machines in 2022”
Last updated: 8 Dec 2021
buzzfeed.com
-
Depth of
analysis
analysis
No
In-house
Testing
Testing
in “31 Of The Best Gifts Under $50 You Can Get At Walmart”
Last updated: 6 Dec 2019
Trusted SourceDepth of
analysis
analysis
Yes
In-house
Testing
Testing
in “The 18 Best Gifts for Busy Moms of 2023”
Last updated: 3 Apr 2023
Trusted Source-
Depth of
analysis
analysis
No
In-house
Testing
Testing
in “This Year in Gear: 73 Notable Tech Products Released in 2017”
Last updated: 26 Aug 2022
Trusted SourceDepth of
analysis
analysis
Yes
In-house
Testing
Testing
in “Best Alexa, Google Assistant, and third-party voice smart speakers for Xbox One”
Last updated: 16 Feb 2020
Trusted Source-
Depth of
analysis
analysis
No
In-house
Testing
Testing
in “Best Tech Gifts for the Chef in Your Life”
Last updated: 22 Jun 2018
mensjournal.com
-
Depth of
analysis
analysis
No
In-house
Testing
Testing
in “The Best Voice-Command Speakers for Your Home”
Last updated: 28 Feb 2023
Depth of
analysis
analysis
Yes
In-house
Testing
Testing
in “The best tech gift ideas under $50 that don’t suck”
Last updated: 24 Aug 2022
Depth of
analysis
analysis
No
In-house
Testing
Testing
in “33 Gifts for Your Whole List (That You Can Buy at Urban Outfitters)”
Last updated: 9 Dec 2020
-
Depth of
analysis
analysis
No
In-house
Testing
Testing
in “Wish List 2017: 60 Amazing Gift Ideas for Everyone in Your Orbit”
Last updated: 21 Nov 2017
mensjournal.com
-
Depth of
analysis
analysis
No
In-house
Testing
Testing
in “The 12 Best Gifts for a Techie”
Last updated: 28 Feb 2023
Highly Trusted SourceDepth of
analysis
analysis
Yes
In-house
Testing
Testing
in “The best July sales and deals 2020 — it's Summer Savings week on Tom's Guide - Smart Home”
Last updated: 10 Jul 2020
Trusted SourceDepth of
analysis
analysis
Yes
In-house
Testing
Testing
in “Best cheap smart home products under $50”
Last updated: 3 Jul 2022
Highly Trusted SourceDepth of
analysis
analysis
Yes
In-house
Testing
Testing
in “Best after Christmas sales of 2019 - Smart Devices and Wearables”
Last updated: 26 Dec 2019
See fewer recommendations
Recommended by trusted experts
Highly Trusted SourceDepth of
analysis
analysis
Yes
In-house
Testing
Testing
Best Smart Speakerin “Best Apple HomeKit Devices for Your Smart Home”
Last updated: 12 Feb 2021
Trusted Source-
Depth of
analysis
analysis
No
In-house
Testing
Testing
Runner Upin “Best Smart Speaker 2022”
Last updated: 9 Dec 2021
Depth of
analysis
analysis
Yes
In-house
Testing
Testing
Best Overallin “8 AirPlay Speakers That’ll Put Your Bluetooth Speakers to Shame”
Last updated: 18 Jun 2018
Depth of
analysis
analysis
Yes
In-house
Testing
Testing
Runner Upin “Best Apple HomeKit devices of 2021”
Last updated: 27 Apr 2023
Depth of
analysis
analysis
Yes
In-house
Testing
Testing
Best smart speaker for Apple fansin “Best smart speakers 2023: Alexa and Siri, Google, Sonos and more”
Last updated: 27 Apr 2023
Depth of
analysis
analysis
Yes
In-house
Testing
Testing
in “Best smart speakers 2023: top Amazon Echo, Google Nest and Apple picks”
Last updated: 8 Jun 2023
Depth of
analysis
analysis
No
In-house
Testing
Testing
in “Best HomeKit Compatible Smart Devices for 2020”
Last updated: 11 Jan 2022
Depth of
analysis
analysis
No
In-house
Testing
Testing
in “43 Best College Graduation Gifts of 2023 That'll Help Them Master Adulthood”
Last updated: 5 May 2023
gearhungry.com
-
Depth of
analysis
analysis
No
In-house
Testing
Testing
in “Best Smart Speakers in 2022”
Last updated: 23 Aug 2022
Reddit-
Depth of
analysis
analysis
No
In-house
Testing
Testing
in “Blind listening test sees Google Home Max again outperform Apple’s HomePod [Video]”
Last updated: 13 Feb 2018
Depth of
analysis
analysis
Yes
In-house
Testing
Testing
Runner Upin “Best Apple HomeKit devices of 2021”
Last updated: 27 Apr 2023
Reddit-
Depth of
analysis
analysis
No
In-house
Testing
Testing
in “Best Smart Speaker for 2018?”
Last updated: 10 Feb 2018
Depth of
analysis
analysis
Yes
In-house
Testing
Testing
Runner Upin “Best Apple HomeKit devices of 2021”
Last updated: 27 Apr 2023
Reddit-
Depth of
analysis
analysis
No
In-house
Testing
Testing
in “The Apple HomePod Sounds Good, But Other Smart Speakers Sound Better”
Last updated: 9 Feb 2018
Depth of
analysis
analysis
Yes
In-house
Testing
Testing
The best AirPlay 2 smart speaker for Apple fansin “Best AirPlay 2 speakers 2019: Sonos One, HomePod, Sonos Beam, & more”
Last updated: 8 Oct 2019
Depth of
analysis
analysis
Yes
In-house
Testing
Testing
The best AirPlay 2 smart speaker for Apple fansin “Best AirPlay 2 speakers 2019: Sonos One, HomePod, Sonos Beam, & more”
Last updated: 8 Oct 2019
Trusted Source-
Depth of
analysis
analysis
No
In-house
Testing
Testing
in “The 10 Best Audio Products of 2018”
Last updated: 25 Aug 2022
Depth of
analysis
analysis
Yes
In-house
Testing
Testing
in “The Best Bluetooth Speakers for Your Home”
Last updated: 8 Jul 2023
The TelegraphDepth of
analysis
analysis
No
In-house
Testing
Testing
in “Best smart speaker: Google vs Amazon vs Apple”
Last updated: 21 Nov 2020
-
Depth of
analysis
analysis
No
In-house
Testing
Testing
in “Apple's HomePod, Google Clips, Other Gear We Loved This Month”
Last updated: 28 Feb 2018
Trusted Source-
Depth of
analysis
analysis
No
In-house
Testing
Testing
in “The Very Best Memorial Day Deals on Speakers, Headphones and 4K TVs”
Last updated: 24 Aug 2022
Trusted Source-
Depth of
analysis
analysis
No
In-house
Testing
Testing
in “Best HomeKit-enabled Father's Day Gifts in 2020”
Last updated: 14 Sep 2020
Depth of
analysis
analysis
Yes
In-house
Testing
Testing
in “The Best Bluetooth Speakers for Your Home”
Last updated: 8 Jul 2023
See fewer recommendations
Find the best product and price, effortlessly.
Discover deals on the best products
We do the research. You save the money.
Opt out anytime