Huupe Mini 2 Smart Hoop Scores Points, Fouls on Reliability

The Huupe Mini 2 earns a 5 out of 10 in WIRED's Nov. 10, 2026, review, which credits the $429 door-mounted hoop for tracking shots and streaming entertainment but dings it for a fast-draining battery, buggy app modes and a remote control that does not always respond.

How does the Huupe Mini 2 work?

The device is effectively a small smart TV with a basketball hoop bolted on, according to WIRED. A 19-inch diagonal LCD screen sits inside a 25-inch diagonal backboard that houses stereo speakers and a camera used to track shots, and the whole unit clips over the top of a door with four screws. Huupe includes a 5-inch inflatable rubber ball, a hand pump and needle, a USB-C charger with a long cable, and a traditional remote that is required to operate the screen. There is no companion phone app — setup runs entirely through the remote and a Wi-Fi connection, the same way a modern television pairs to a network, WIRED reports.

What upgrades does the Mini 2 bring over the original Huupe Mini?

Huupe told WIRED that most of the changes are internal: a faster processor, a larger battery now rated for four hours of use, sharper display quality, and "significantly" improved shot tracking. The company also added new games to the lineup covered in the review.

Where did testers run into trouble?

The battery drains quickly even when the hoop sits unused, WIRED found, and the included hard rubber ball makes shooting indoors loud. Some app-based game modes did not function during testing, the remote behaved inconsistently, the built-in speakers are weak, and the streaming lineup does not include Netflix. "I've been testing one out for weeks, and while it's a fun diversion, some of its features overreach beyond its core functionality, resulting in an experience that bricks as much as it dunks," WIRED's Christopher Null wrote in the Nov. 10, 2026, review.

Is the Huupe Mini 2 fun to actually play?

On the upside, WIRED calls it "definitely an upgrade to the typical indoor basketball experience," pointing to a wide range of play modes — arguably too many — plus social features like global challenges and leaderboards against strangers, and a broad menu of streaming options layered onto the backboard screen. The review opens by invoking the household rule most players grew up with: "Don't play ball in the house," writing that any parent who said it "is going to absolutely hate the Huupe Mini 2" — a nod to the device's whole pitch of bringing a full hoop-and-screen setup indoors. But WIRED also notes the novelty wears off: after weeks of use, the experience eventually goes stale, and the extra entertainment layers compete with, rather than complement, the basketball itself.

How does the Mini 2 fit the broader push toward interactive hardware?

Huupe's door-mounted hoop is part of a wider industry trend of hardware makers bolting smart, connected features onto traditionally analog gear. At a Saudi exhibition in September, peripheral maker DAREU unveiled adaptive gaming hardware aimed at the same bet — that players want more sensors, more connectivity and more social competition layered onto familiar equipment. The Huupe Mini 2 applies that logic to a basketball backboard, with mixed results according to WIRED's testing.

What should shoppers watch for before buying?

• Price: Listed at $499, selling for $429 at the time of WIRED's review.
• Battery life: Rated for four hours per charge, but WIRED found it drains even while idle.
• Setup: No companion app — connects to Wi-Fi directly through the remote, like a television.
• Noise: The included hard rubber ball is loud indoors; a softer ball may be worth sourcing separately.
• Software: Some game and streaming modes did not work during testing, and Netflix is not supported.
• Remote: Described as buggy; test responsiveness before relying on it for setup or gameplay.

Quick specs

The full review, including Huupe's pricing and buying links, is available at wired.com.