Meanwhile, you’d struggle to ever find Apple discounting the HomePod mini by 20 percent, let alone 40 percent.
2. The Echo Has Physical Controls
Meanwhile, the HomePod mini requires multiple taps and long presses for certain functions, which can be incredibly frustrating if you’re trying to control your smart speaker at night.
3. You Can Control Spotify With Your Voice
You might need to rethink your chosen streaming service if you’re looking to buy a HomePod mini, as Spotify, the world’s most popular music streaming platform, is largely incompatible. Instead, Apple prefers you use Apple Music.
You can play Spotify through AirPlay, but this means you can’t use voice controls or Spotify Connect when listening to your favorite songs. The Echo offers both of these features.
4. The Echo is Compatible With More Services
The overall number of services the HomePod mini integrates with is a far cry from the Echo’s compatibility. The HomePod can currently natively play:
Apple Music Apple Podcasts Pandora Deezer TuneIn Radio iHeart Radio
The Echo can link with every service listed above, plus:
And more, depending on your location. The Echo also links with TV services, like Fire TV, Philips Smart TV, and Roku, among many others. Alexa can even add items to list apps like Todoist, Anylist, and Bring! Shopping list.
5. No Apple Device Is Required
To set up the HomePod mini, you will need to use an iPhone or iPad—there’s no way to get through setup without one. You can technically use a HomePod mini without an Apple device, but it severely limits how much you can use the HomePod. If your Android device supports AirPlay, you can use it as a smart speaker. But any feature that requires an iOS-based device will be out of bounds.
6. The Alexa App Has More Features Than the Home App
But if you do have a smartphone, you’ll probably be using the Alexa app (available for iOS and Android). Apple has its central Home app, available for iOS, for controlling every device in its ecosystem. Bbut overall, its features pale in comparison with the Alexa app.
For example, within the Alexa app, you can browse third-party skills, set up a Flash Briefing, see your conversation history with Alexa, send announcements to your Echo, and more. The Home app offers none of this functionality.
7. The Echo Has an AUX Input/Output and Bluetooth Connectivity
Thanks to AUX in/out support, you can plug in another wired device to use the Echo as a speaker. You can also feed the Echo audio to a larger, wired speaker.
However, the HomePod Mini only supports AirPlay and has no functional Bluetooth connectivity.
8. You Can Shop With Your Voice Using Alexa
Unfortunately, the HomePod is unable to do any form of voice shopping.
9. Alexa Supports Third-Party Skills
Part of what led Apple to become the tech titan it is today was the creation of the App Store, launched just a year after the first iPhone. It seems strange then that there’s no platform for developers to release functionality-expanding third-party apps on the HomePod mini.
To learn more about some of these amazing third-party skills, take a look at the 25 best Alexa skills of all time.
10. The Echo Is Better for Families
In contrast, the HomePod mini can block explicit lyrics and prevent personalized Siri requests, but that’s about it. There’s no easy way to set up a kid’s profile or control access, unlike with Alexa.
11. Alexa Together and Alexa Guard Can Save Lives
Alexa Guard is free and enables Alexa to send notifications if it detects smoke alarms or glass breaking, and allows you to replay the sound or Drop In to hear what’s happening in real-time. The premium subscription version, Guard Plus, lets you call the 24/7 Emergency Helpline hands-free and will notify you of activity around your Echo when you’re out of the house.
Both of these features can be potentially lifesaving and are a worthwhile investment to make for your and your family’s wellbeing. The HomePod mini offers nothing close to these capabilities.
12. You Can Change Your Wake Word
Despite Apple’s leadership in the smartphone market, the company is clearly underperforming in its smart speaker range. Some reviews say that the HomePod mini has better sound than the Echo. While this might be true, the Echo is a standout winner when it comes to features, integrations, and accessibility.
