HomePod mini 2 as a Mac speaker: Apple finally allows it

TVS News AI, editorially supervised, presents HomePod mini 2 as a Mac speaker: Apple finally allows it.

Apple is opening up a feature that Mac users have been missing: the HomePod mini 2 can now be set as the default audio output of a Mac – provided the Mac supports Wi-Fi 6E. System sounds, music, movies, and FaceTime calls now play directly on the Apple speaker, without having to manually select AirPlay after every restart.

Why this is a real improvement

Until now, Apple's networked speakers could play music but couldn't permanently take over a computer's system sound. Anyone who wanted to use the HomePod at their desk had to go through AirPlay – and after every restart or logged-out session, had to manually switch the audio output again. As Frandroid reports, AirPlay also introduced a slight audio delay. That hurdle is now removed.

How to set it up

The setup happens directly in the Mac's system settings. According to Apple, the HomePod mini 2 can be used as the Mac's "default speaker," for both movies and FaceTime calls. AirPlay remains available but can no longer be set as the default. According to the manufacturer, the connection is now more responsive and reliable.

You can use a single HomePod mini 2 or pair two units into a stereo pair. Apple has not yet confirmed true Mac surround sound – a system with four speakers exists with the new Apple TV 4K, but only for a different use case. The HomePod mini 2 itself has a single driver without a separate woofer, supports Siri, runs on iOS, macOS, and iPadOS, weighs 335 grams, and is available in black, white, blue, green, and pink.

Wi-Fi 6E: The hurdle is in the Mac, not the router

The central requirement isn't your home network but your computer: the Mac must support at least Wi-Fi 6E. The 6 GHz band offers more capacity and less congestion on the wireless network, which is why Apple ties the requirement to the computer rather than the router. Specifically, Macs from the Mac mini M2, MacBook Air M3, and iMac M3 onward, as well as all newer models, qualify. Older Macs – such as those with an M1 chip – miss out on the new feature and must stick with the old AirPlay route, including manual switching.

The full-size HomePod gets the feature too

A footnote from Apple expands the circle: the full-size second-generation HomePod is also expected to receive the feature – with the same Wi-Fi 6E requirement. Until now, it was assumed that this type of audio connection would remain reserved for the 2026 Apple TV 4K. The HomePod mini 2 now opens it up to a much broader user base. According to Frandroid, the necessary software updates are expected by the end of October.

How much does the HomePod mini 2 cost?

At Boulanger and Materiel.net, the price is €169; at Fnac and Darty, it's €169.99.

Is it worth it for you?

If you already have a compatible Mac (M2/M3 or newer) and a HomePod mini 2 near your desk, you can save yourself a separate computer speaker. Internal Mac speakers or a monitor with audio output become superfluous, FaceTime calls and movies play directly on the HomePod. The stereo version with two HomePod mini 2 is the more exciting option if you also want to watch movies on your Mac – confirmation of true Mac surround sound is still missing, however. The strongest counterargument: anyone who doesn't yet own a Wi-Fi 6E Mac is completely left out and must continue to live with AirPlay, manual switching, and the small latency delay.