Apple HomePod (2nd gen) vs Sonos Sub Mini

Comparing a speaker to a subwoofer stacks the odds early: the Apple HomePod (2nd gen) is the clear overall winner in this smart speaker matchup with the Sonos Sub Mini, for the simple reason that only one of them plays music, controls smart devices and answers voice commands on its own. The HomePod wins on price, its Thread and Matter smart home hub, Siri voice control and its temperature and humidity sensors, none of which the Sub Mini attempts, since the Sub Mini has no microphone, no voice assistant and no volume controls of its own, existing purely to add bass to a separate Sonos speaker or soundbar. The one place the Sub Mini pulls ahead is a higher average owner rating among people who already know exactly what they are buying: extra low end for an existing Sonos system, not a standalone smart speaker. If you need an actual voice-controlled smart speaker, the Apple HomePod (2nd gen) is the only real option here; if you already own a Sonos soundbar or speaker and want deeper bass, the Sonos Sub Mini does a different job entirely, and does it well.