Apple doubled its smart speaker market share in 2021 thanks to HomePod mini

The HomePod mini is helping Apple to gain market share in the competitive smart speaker market, though the company still lags behind its rivals in the space.

Apple shipped an estimated 4 million smart speaker units in the third quarter of 2021, representing 10.2% of the market, according to new data from Strategy Analytics. That's nearly double Apple's 5.9% share of the market in Q3 2020.

Amazon came in first in the smart speaker market with a 26.4% share, while Google came in third with 20.5%. Baidu and Alibaba ranked third and fourth, with Apple coming in fifth in the global rankings.

The HomePod mini itself was one of the top-selling smart speakers in Q3 2021, however. It ranked second behind the Google Nest Mini but ahead of the fourth-generation Amazon Echo Dot, Strategy Analytics said.

Apple launched the HomePod mini in October 2020 as a cheaper alternative to its then-flagship HomePod. In March, Apple discontinued the full-sized HomePod device. Earlier in 2021, Apple added new colors to the lineup.

Unlike its smart home competitors, Apple only has a single smart speaker product — and it doesn't have any with a screen. That could change in the future, with some rumors indicating that Apple is working on an Apple TV device that sport a built-in camera and HomePod speaker, as well as a smart speaker with its own touchscreen display.

44 Comments

ihatescreennames 1971 comments · 19 Years

About 2 years ago

I might consider a HomePod with a screen on it, depending on what the screen does. If its primary function is to serve ads all day long, like my friend’s Echo Show, then I’ll pass.

My friend uses her ES in the kitchen mostly as a device to tell her the weather and set timers, something her Echo dot down the hall does just as well. I don’t get the appeal in viewing ads on it 24/7.

mcdave 1927 comments · 19 Years

Apple Music Voice + HomePod mini was a smart move. It should also help improve Siri. Now they just need an AppleTV sound bar with a pumped up GPU for gaming & some deals to deliver AAA games (OK & maybe Epic too) via Apple Arcade+

MisterKit 513 comments · 8 Years

The original HomePod was ahead of it’s time and unfortunately it was underappreciated.

mike1 3431 comments · 10 Years

ihatescreennames said:

I might consider a HomePod with a screen on it, depending on what the screen does. If its primary function is to serve ads all day long, like my friend’s Echo Show, then I’ll pass.
My friend uses her ES in the kitchen mostly as a device to tell her the weather and set timers, something her Echo dot down the hall does just as well. I don’t get the appeal in viewing ads on it 24/7.

I have two Minis and an original HomePod throughout the house. Never once wished any of them had a screen. There are plenty of screens already. Phones, iPads, computers and TVs are all easily accessible if it was needed. However, they all sound pretty good while giving me Siri access and Home control throughout the house.

eightzero 3145 comments · 14 Years

On something of a lark, I got a homepod mini for a very very low price. I jumped because I am rather curious about it. Initial impression is that it indeed has excellent sound. However, the Siri interface is still very unpredictable, and doesn't seem to understand I have a full library of music in the computer upstairs that she is connected to. Yes, I know this is fixed once I subscribe to Apple Music (and I got a free 6 month subscription to try) but having the functionality of this device tied to a subscription is something I really don't want. And yes, I also know I can go upstairs and Airplay from my library to the homepod, none of which is something I want to do. It should just work, and...well...it doesn't unless I fork over more quid on a regular basis.

I really do wish I could tie this to my Roku smart TV, but that requires I use the AppleTV box as the primary interface, and that's just one more thing to dork with.

Gene Muenster never did come through with his Apple HDTV prediction.