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Apple has released a new, smaller version of their speaker: HomePod mini.

HomePod Mini

One of my complaints with the original HomePod was its use of a proprietary power cable connector, which made it difficult to replace or shorten the cable. Most other Apple devices use industry-standard C7 "figure 8" power cables for mains wall power, or a USB-C or Lightning cable plus a power adapter.

What type of power cord does the HomePod mini use?

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  • What's at the other end? Mains voltage, or…?
    – Tetsujin
    Commented Oct 13, 2020 at 18:19
  • Have you had many occasions to remove the power cord from your HomePods? I’ve had two for quite a while and not once have I ever needed to think about removing the cord. I guess I don’t mind a gentle coil when I have one pod 10 cm from my power.
    – bmike ♦
    Commented Oct 13, 2020 at 22:33
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    @bmike I have a countertop Sonos with a perfectly sized 18" power cord, easily swapped from the long one in the box. I'd consider wall/ceiling mounts for the HomePod but a long non-removable cord makes that much less appealing.
    – pkamb
    Commented Oct 13, 2020 at 22:58
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    Aah. I didn’t consider mounting them where I couldn’t touch them on a ceiling. Cool idea. I hope the wiring works out for your dream project.
    – bmike ♦
    Commented Oct 13, 2020 at 23:34

5 Answers 5

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The Apple sales page does not contain a single photo of the power cord. It's as if they want you to think it doesn't have one...

I used that page's "AR" feature on my iPhone to view a virtual version of the HomePod mini on my table. I had to walk around to the other side of the table, then took a screenshot.

The AR HomePod mini appears to use the same round, proprietary, non-removable power cable as the original HomePod.

AR HomePod Mini power cable

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    That would imply shortening the cable length is a 5-minute job, if it's on mains. Lop off the moulded plug, shorten the cable, put a new plug on. Done.
    – Tetsujin
    Commented Oct 14, 2020 at 8:14
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    @Tetsujin not really. What you say is true for the homepod. But the mini has an adapter so removing the mains plug to shorten or pass through a hole is not that useful. You need to do that to the cable between the mini and the adapter and we don't know what the connectors on that are
    – mmmmmm
    Commented Oct 14, 2020 at 14:00
  • Ah, if it's DC, then it is going to depend on whether it's shielded or simple 2-core, though tbh, you could chop either & get away with a bit of 2A terminal bloc, 50p from any DIY store, keeping whatever plugs were on both ends.
    – Tetsujin
    Commented Oct 14, 2020 at 14:11
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The cable length is six feet and it’s powered by the same small 20 W adapter as the iPad Pro ship with. Same size as the older 18 W adapter which will not work except to give an awesome safe red glow to the orb. So the mini has a cable fixed in the orb, that ends in a USB-C connector.

The adapter directly plugs into the wall 20 W USB-C adapters

twenty watt usb-c power adapter

The tech specs say 20 W power adapter and the published efficiencies table lists 100 / 115 / 230 V input.

Two things to remember, all cords are removable and all machines generate smoke if you are sufficiently equipped and motivated.

HomePod mini teardown

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    This is most likely the case. It's very rare nowadays for a product to have a power adapter and be hardwired to the product. Whether it's a USB interface (USB-C, Micro, Lightning, etc.) or a simple barrel connector, they are (significantly) more often than not, removable.
    – Allan
    Commented Oct 13, 2020 at 21:56
  • I will order one sight unseen at the earliest opportunity @Allan - Almost bought my third full one but I’ll wait for these so I have one in the den / bedroom for my third device in the apartment.
    – bmike ♦
    Commented Oct 13, 2020 at 22:12
  • Sounds like you've got a nice setup going there, would love to hear your thoughts on this second iteration of the HomePod.
    – Allan
    Commented Oct 13, 2020 at 22:18
  • The length of the attached cord would be useful, if you have it!
    – pkamb
    Commented Nov 17, 2020 at 17:36
  • Soon! Hopefully very soon! @pkamb
    – bmike ♦
    Commented Nov 17, 2020 at 17:39
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I feel the need to post this as an answer, even though it's really just a frame challenge.

Late edit*
As it appears the Homepod will come with a power adaptor, the job just got even cheaper, if just as simple.
Clip the cable anywhere it will be out of sight & join with a bit of terminal block, 50p from any DIY store.

enter image description here

It's designed for mains voltages, but to comply with regs, would need to be encased in a supporting/insulating block for 110/240v. For low-voltage DC you can leave it in the open, or wrap in a bit of insulating tape if you're a bit paranoid wary.

You're going to need to do this to get the cable through any inconspicuous hole in your desk/wall/ceiling anyway. If the plug at one end is proprietary or even a standard small-form figure-8, it's going to be much harder to achieve, plus user-fit figure 8s are more bulky than their moulded counterparts.

Replacing a standard mains plug is little more than a 5-minute job for anyone with an elementary skill-set. It will almost certainly be a double-insulated structure, so you've only two wires to get right. Brown live, blue neutral.

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The HomePod mini was quickly opened up after release:

Cord details:

  • 6ft Power Cord.
  • Non-removable, unlike the original HomePod, which could be yanked from the unit with a hard tug.
  • USB-C on the wall-end.
  • Ships with a 20W USB-C Power Adapter.
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The cord is semi (hard tug) non removable from the side of the HomePod mini. On the other side, it is a USB-C plug. HomePod mini comes with this new 20W power-adapter that has female USB-C connector: https://www.apple.com/shop/product/MHJA3AM/A/20w-usb-c-power-adapter

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  • Do you have a review unit? I can’t wait to see pictures of how this runs from the wall to the adapter to the unit itself.
    – bmike ♦
    Commented Oct 17, 2020 at 13:13
  • RE: "The cord is semi (hard tug) non removable" -- Sounds like double-speak!
    – user3439894
    Commented Oct 17, 2020 at 14:29
  • @user3439894 somewhat! Can it be removed? Yes, pulling very hard. Is it encouraged? No, because there's a risk to break the plug or cord doing so, or make it too much wobbly when put back in place. It is possible, put it is not intended to.
    – flux_capacitor
    Commented Oct 18, 2020 at 15:48

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