Apple Homepod Mini

The 10 best smart home products not made by Google or Amazon (or their subsidiaries)

Apple rarely has any misses with its products, especially during the dominant era that began with the release of the first generation iPhone. Time after time, the Cupertino, California-based company has knocked it out of the ballpark, setting the bar in each product category it enters. Products such as the iPod, iPhone, iPad, and AirPods all have shown phenomenal appeal among consumers, but that doesn’t mean that Apple is infallible. The original HomePod is an example of one of those missed opportunities, and its failure impeded Apple’s ambitious efforts in the smart home realm. Pricing was partly to blame — a premium cost of $349 out of the gates made it a tough sell for the masses. But it looks as though Apple has listened to its critics. Now, though, there appears to be redemption with the HomePod mini. Even though Apple has gone smaller with this iteration, don’t let its size fool you, because this decision has grander implications that make it a formidable player in the smart home...

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Apple rarely has any misses with its products, especially during the dominant era that began with the release of the first generation iPhone. Time after time, the Cupertino, California-based company has knocked it out of the ballpark, setting the bar in each product category it enters. Products such as the iPod, iPhone, iPad, and AirPods all have shown phenomenal appeal among consumers, but that doesn’t mean that Apple is infallible. The original HomePod is an example of one of those missed opportunities, and its failure impeded Apple’s ambitious efforts in the smart home realm. Pricing was partly to blame — a premium cost of $349 out of the gates made it a tough sell for the masses. But it looks as though Apple has listened to its critics. Now, though, there appears to be redemption with the HomePod mini. Even though Apple has gone smaller with this iteration, don’t let its size fool you, because this decision has grander implications that make it a formidable player in the smart home...

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Apple rarely has any misses with its products, especially during the dominant era that began with the release of the first generation iPhone. Time after time, the Cupertino, California-based company has knocked it out of the ballpark, setting the bar in each product category it enters. Products such as the iPod, iPhone, iPad, and AirPods all have shown phenomenal appeal among consumers, but that doesn’t mean that Apple is infallible. The original HomePod is an example of one of those missed opportunities, and its failure impeded Apple’s ambitious efforts in the smart home realm. Pricing was partly to blame — a premium cost of $349 out of the gates made it a tough sell for the masses. But it looks as though Apple has listened to its critics. Now, though, there appears to be redemption with the HomePod mini. Even though Apple has gone smaller with this iteration, don’t let its size fool you, because this decision has grander implications that make it a formidable player in the smart home...