Review of the new version of Yandex. Mini Stations "- louder sound and buttons instead of gestures

The first Yandex. Station Mini "was released in 2019 and, according toThe new Yandex. Station Mini ". The Big Story of a Small Device / Yandex Blog manufacturer, has become a "people's smart speaker". The key to its popularity was its small size and low price - at least two times lower than that of similar devices. The updated version will no longer become the cheapest gadget of this type on the Russian market - this title has been given to “Yandex. Light stations». But "Mini" received a more powerful speaker and a new control system, and the older version has a LED display.

Table of contents

• Specifications
• Appearance
• Connection
• Voice Assistant Features
• Microphones and sound
• Outcomes

Specifications

Appearance

The new version of Yandex. Station Mini "only at first glance looks exactly the same as previous. Outwardly, it is still a small neat little cylinder. But its dimensions have slightly increased due to the increased power of the speaker, and red and blue have been added to the black and white colors. In addition, two speaker options are now available: with a display (we had this one in our testing) and without it.

The device looks laconic in black. Even the label that used to be purple is now the same color as the case.

When unpacking the gadget, the main surprise is the dimensions of the network adapter. For such a small device, it looks huge and weighty - about 47x65x32mm and 110g, according to our measurements. Due to its size, it can be difficult to connect it to outlets hidden behind furniture.

The power connector has also changed. The new Mini uses a classic DC jack. Developers explainThe new Yandex. Station Mini ". The Big Story of a Small Device / Yandex Blog this is because the more powerful speaker required 15 volts, which the conventional Type-C does not provide. And adding support for the Power Delivery (PD) protocol would significantly increase the price of the device.

Rubberized body base columns adheres well to surfaces. Niches for removing the power cord are not provided. It's a pity. This would be convenient when the device is near a power outlet.

LED display “Yandex. Station Mini ”occupies less than half the height of the body. The font height is 20 mm, the line thickness is approximately 4 mm. The brightness of the moon-white illumination is adjusted automatically. At night, the numbers practically go out, but you cannot turn them off completely.

The screen displays not only the clock, but other information as well. When the column talks about weather, the display shows the air temperature, when the timer starts, the time counts down. An asterisk next to the numbers reminds of the switched on alarm clock, and if you ask “Alice” to tell about herself, “eyes” appear at the column.

The first version of Mini was criticized by many for gesture control. It was uncomfortable, besides, the device reacted to any movement, for example, someone stepping over it. cat.

Now the control keys have appeared on the upper plastic panel. The central one, with the logo of the voice assistant "Alice", is touch-sensitive and is visible only when you are communicating with the speaker. Side embossed - are responsible for adjusting the volume and switching tracks while listening to music.

Another button is located on the side opposite to the LED display, next to the connectors. She turns off the microphone.

Connection

With the Yandex. Station Mini ”no problem. All that is required is to install the proprietary Yandex application, press the central key with the logo on the column to bind it, and follow the instructions on the smartphone screen. The longest part of the process is downloading the software and updating the firmware to the latest version.

After connection, the column can be "registered" in a certain room and bind devices to it smart home. The Yandex application also makes it possible to control the station remotely, for example, activate the Do Not Disturb mode or call it to talk to someone who is nearby.

Voice Assistant Features

Yandex. Station Mini "is controlled by" Alice ". Here's what she can do:

• Set timer and alarm.
• Turn on radio (it's free) or music from podcasts (This requires an active Yandex. A plus").
• Report exchange rates, weather forecast, how long it will take to get to the desired place.
• Answer the simplest questions. Alice reads them from sites found in Yandex search. There is also censorship, but it does not work perfectly. For example, for a request for suicide, a psychological help telephone number is sounded, but if you ask how to do hara-kiri, detailed instructions are provided.
• Manage smart home devices from both Yandex and other manufacturers.

The list of supported devices includes almost all brands on the Russian market. By using "Alice»You can control lights and sockets, household appliances, underfloor heating and climatic technology. But more specific gadgets, such as a smart video camera or a leakage sensor, could not be connected to the station.

Microphones and sound

The new version of Yandex. Station Mini ”received four microphones and one broadband speaker.

The microphones are sensitive enough to pick up commands from an adjacent room, provided the doors are open and the voice is raised slightly. When the speaker is playing music, you have to shout to be heard.

The power of the full-range speaker has tripled compared to the first mini-version of the smart gadget - now it's 10 watts. The sound is quite loud, but frankly mediocre in detail, with inexpressive bass. In addition, bounce and "wheezing" appear at maximum volume.

The column is combined with other Yandex. Stations ”into a stereo system, but if you take into account the sound quality, it doesn't make much sense.

Yandex. Mini Station ”has an audio output for connecting headphones or external acoustics. But the output volume is low, and even hard rock can be heard without the risk of damaging your eardrums.

Outcomes

Yandex. Station Mini "of the second generation is perfect for a kitchen or a nursery. This is a good option if you are going to actively use the voice assistant, including for controlling smart home devices. But if you like listening to music, and not just podcasts or children's stories, it is better to choose the Yandex. Stations ”are bigger and more expensive.

As an inexpensive alternative, you can consider Yandex. Station Light ", which costs 4,000 rubles. Although the speaker is even weaker, and there is no display. But it's still more convenient with it than without it: you get not only a speaker, but also a watch.

Now Yandex. Station Mini "with an LED display is sold for 6,990 rubles, without it - a thousand less. There is also an option to subscribe to the column and the Yandex. A plus". If you subscribe for a year, the monthly fee will be 799 rubles, and the final price of the device itself is 7,200 rubles. If you take it for three years, you will have to pay 499 rubles a month, and the final cost will increase to 10,800 rubles.

A subscription is less profitable than a purchase, but it is a good option in case there is no desire or opportunity to give the full amount at once. Just keep in mind that you won't be able to unsubscribe: if you stop paying, the station will be blocked, but the debt will still remain.

Buy

The author thanks «Yandex.» for the device provided for testing. The company had no way of influencing its outcome.