Because smart speakers have always felt like an afterthought for the world’s second-largest smartphone manufacturer and number one smartwatch and tablet vendor, we can’t say we’re very surprised to see the year ending with no new HomePod models unveiled.
While a few
timid rumors do point in the direction of a possible expansion of Apple’s Echo and Nest-rivaling product lineup
in 2023, the existing HomePod mini could still pique your interest if for some reason you prefer to interact with Siri instead of Alexa and Google Assistant… and you’re strapped for cash ahead of the holidays.
Yes, there is such a thing as an ultra-affordable
Apple device, at least if you don’t mind taking your business to eBay and dealing with a top-rated seller called Quick Ship Electronics. This currently charges as little as $67 for an “open box” version of a product that’s
almost never marked down from its already reasonable list price of $99 in brand-new condition.
Open box units are generally a better choice than refurbs, mind you, when shopping on a tight budget, especially if they come with a full 1-year warranty, as is the case here. That’s because you’re looking at a device that was most likely not used by anyone before you for more than a few days, sold in “maybe slightly distressed” packaging with all original accessories in the box (20W power adapter included) and its factory settings restored.
Unless you’re very unlucky, you shouldn’t be able to tell the difference between a HomePod mini purchased at 67 bucks in a single space gray color and a completely new, unused, and unopened copy fetching $99 elsewhere, at least at first glance.
By no means perfect from a software standpoint as it continues to lack some of the competition’s advanced voice skills, the HomePod mini does undeniably pack a lot of power into a very compact body, delivering “room-filling” 360-degree sound without you having to lift a finger. That sounds like a pretty amazing Christmas gift idea for a hardcore Apple fan, don’t you think?
