5 Fun Ways to Use Homepod Minis

Break out of your speaker rut

- By Olena Kagui

HomePod minis offer a fun way to integrate the Apple ecosystem into your home, especially now that they're available in five colors (I hope to see a purple option in the future to match my iMac!). HomePod minis can bring more into your home than just a pop of color. Here are five tips to get the most out of your tiny home assistant.

1 HOME THEATER AUDIO FOR APPLE TV 4K

Despite their small size, HomePod minis are surprisingly powerful speakers with 360-degree audio. If you have two, you can create a stereo pair that brings your sound to a whole new level. You can pair them in just a few steps via the HomeKit app, and your Apple TV 4K will immediately suggest them as the preferred speaker.

Unfortunately, HomePod minis don't support Dolby Atmos 5.1 or 7.1 surround sound, and there isn't any confirmation that this will change any time soon. However, using them as Apple TV speakers still brings a theater feel to your home. I love that my minis are so portable, letting me alternate between an immersive home cinema experience and a private TV binge session in seconds.

2 SEND & RECEIVE INTERCOM MESSAGES

HomePod minis offer an affordable way to install an intercom system throughout your home. Stop yelling across rooms and send an intercom message to your entire house, a single room, or a specific zone instead. You can even ask Siri to send an intercom message via any compatible Apple device, including your AirPods, or through CarPlay.