The HomePod Mini takes a slightly different approach from the rest of today’s best smart speakers. There is a common operating system from Apple just like Amazon and Google, but Siri is less personified as an AI voice assistant platform. You can use the HomePod Mini to control your smart home, but not as much as you can with an Amazon or Google-powered speaker. But one common feature is some of the different music services that you can use.
Where the HomePod Mini excels is as a music device. Despite its small size, the sound quality it offers is great. It’s also very affordable, a rarity on most Apple products, and a great value if all you want is a hands-free music system.
For music, you need a ringtone source, and here’s what you can use on your HomePod Mini.
What music services are supported on the HomePod Mini?
Despite its apparent connection to Apple’s content ecosystem, the HomePod Mini can still be used to listen to some music without a paid subscription through radio-based services. Similarly, the HomePod was originally an Apple-exclusive device, but now there are third-party music sources that you can listen to.
Apple Music and Apple Podcasts
The main reason you’ll likely be interested in the HomePod Mini at all is its integration with Apple Music. Apple Music is not free, but it contains a file Free trial for one month Available for its different plans. If you’ve never been a subscriber and purchase a HomePod Mini, you can also get six months of free access to the service with it.
Besides the traditional single and family plans, there are options for students and for audio-only access. The former is a version of the individual plan but at a reduced price for students who can check their education status. The voice plan is half the price of the single plan but you can only access it using Siri. So, if all you want is music around the house on your HomePod Mini, this could be a great option.
Apple Podcasts are also integrated into the HomePod Mini and will be the default service, just like Apple Music. You can listen to your favorite audio files simply by asking Siri to play them.
Pandora
Pandora users in the US (currently the only market for the service) can link their free, add-on, or premium accounts to the HomePod Mini and enjoy hands-free, voice-activated music throughout the home.
This includes podcasts and category-specific perks such as unlimited skips for additional and premium subscriptions. To link Pandora to your HomePod Mini, you’ll also need the Pandora app on your iPhone or iPad.
Deezer
Deezer’s 73 million song library is available for use on the HomePod Mini for paid subscribers only. Unlike some other smart speakers, the HomePod Mini also supports Deezer HiFi Hi-Res FLAC audio.
Deezer on HomePod Mini It currently only supports music, with no podcasts, audiobooks, and Live Radio available for playback via Siri. Additionally, to set up Deezer on your HomePod Mini, you’ll need the latest version of the app on your iPhone or iPad.
Radio TuneIn
TuneIn Radio’s main offering is a free service that you can use to listen to music on your HomePod Mini. It’s best if they are stored in the device so you don’t have anything to download or set up.
To listen to your favorite radio station, just say “Hey Siri, play…” and you’ll get the broadcast provided by TuneIn. This is especially useful for those outside of North America.
i heart radio
Just like TuneIn, iHeartRadio is free to use on your HomePod Mini to listen to radio stations assuming you’re in a supported market. You don’t have to worry about setting it up either.
Simply ask Siri to turn on your favorite iHeartRadio station and you’re ready to go. This only works in iHeartRadio supported markets, for example, in Europe, you will be directed via TuneIn Radio instead.
Other music services: Spotify, YouTube Music, Amazon, and more
Apple has opened support for third-party music services on the HomePod Mini through Siri. But whatever the reason, the uptake was minimal. Some of the biggest players in the game, notably Spotify, are not supported for voice access on the HomePod Mini.
However, thanks to the tight integration with the rest of your Apple devices, you can play music from any unsupported service fairly easily. The catch is that you have to start up from your iPhone, iPad or Mac.
The good news on this front is that Apple makes it incredibly easy to do. You can manually share audio with the HomePod Mini using AirPlay or by mounting your device to the top of the speaker. This way, Handoff will automatically transfer it between devices. You can use Siri to interact with the music by issuing related commands, such as “Hey Siri, next track.”
If you don’t have an iOS device or a Mac, you won’t want to use the HomePod Mini at all. For starters, you need an iOS device to set the HomePod Mini in the first place. The HomePod Mini supports Bluetooth, but not for audio, so you can’t use it as a target for music from any device that way.
If you’re in the Apple ecosystem, the HomePod Mini is a very good smart speaker. Even if you don’t subscribe to Apple Music, you have options. Everyone else would be better off with an Amazon Echo or Google Nest Audio.
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