Is there a future basketball star in your family? Whether your child is part of a team or you still carry your own basketball dreams, a smart basketball hoop from Huupe may catch your interest.
Huupe, a new player in the market, is dedicated to innovative basketball hoops. In 2023, it raised $11 million from venture capital firms supported by NBA owners and players.
The first product from Huupe, the Huupe Pro, is promoted as the “first smart basketball hoop in the world.” It follows regulation dimensions with an in-ground pole and a smart feature—a large HD display equipped with cameras in the backboard to monitor shots and statistics.
Nonetheless, the Pro version came with issues. A regulation hoop needs considerable space, and the Huupe Pro sparked debate when placed in an NYC park due to privacy worries about its cameras. Moreover, its price at $9,995 significantly exceeded that of regular hoops.
In the summer of 2025, Huupe launched the Huupe Mini, a compact version of the Pro. It’s an over-the-door model with smart features, resolving concerns over price and privacy. Here’s our assessment.
Huupe Mini: Lower cost but still pricey
The Huupe Mini comes at a lower price than its predecessor but remains expensive, retailing for $799 and frequently available for $599 on the Huupe website and Amazon. It continues to be the priciest over-the-door basketball hoop on the market, as most non-smart mini hoops are priced under $100.
The Huupe Mini is not suited for casual players. To fully enjoy its data tracking features, a dedicated fan would need to consider spending $800. As a soccer coach for my son’s team, I understand that parents of serious young athletes are inclined to invest in their children’s sports.
For dedicated basketball enthusiasts, the Huupe Mini may not seem excessively priced in comparison to other sports equipment.
Assembling the Huupe Mini
The Huupe Mini is hefty for a “mini” product, boasting a backboard of 22 by 17 inches and weighing more than 20 lbs. The backboard effectively serves as a large LED display, which justifies the weight, though it may come as a surprise.
Included with the Huupe Mini are a mini ball, a remote control for the display, and a charger. The charging port is conveniently located on the underside of the backboard, enabling charging while in use.
After securing the hoop and door hooks, it fit comfortably over my kids’ room door. Despite initial worries regarding its weight, both the door and the Huupe Mini have proven to be robust.
Once assembled, I set up an account using the display, and we were all set to start playing.
Huupe Mini: Exceptional shot tracking
The main question is: Does the Huupe Mini effectively track shots? It excels in this area. Its cameras can monitor all shot types, including swishes, rim hits, backboard contact, airballs, and even misses that do not hit the hoop.
The Huupe Mini’s shot tracking capabilities, even without contact, are noteworthy. The display presents real-time statistics, reflecting shots, percentages, and distances, differentiating between dunks, layups, two-pointers, and three-pointers.
It’s astonishing to witness the device accurately recording these details during gameplay.
The Huupe Mini offers more than just statistical tracking. It features online mini-games, enabling competition with other Huupe Mini users. One such game, Huupe City Royale, pits teams of four against each other in a competitive leaderboard format.
Additionally, the Huupe Mini can operate as a mini Smart TV, featuring built-in applications such as YouTube and Netflix for entertainment during play. The addition of an in-game currency is planned for acquiring extra mini-games, although it is not yet available.
According to the company, all current features of the Huupe Mini come at no extra cost.
Privacy considerations
Huupe addressed the size and pricing issues of the Huupe Pro by introducing the Huupe Mini. But what’s the status regarding the cameras?
When the Huupe Pro was set up in a NYC park, Huupe reassured users that the cameras only monitored the ball, without recording or streaming any video.
For the Huupe Mini used at home, safeguarding privacy was a top concern. The Mini employs sensors rather than cameras for tracking purposes.
“Considering the Huupe Mini, maintaining privacy was essential, particularly in private settings like bedrooms or home offices,” stated Huupe CEO Paul Anton in an interview with Mashable. “We transitioned from cameras to state-of-the-art radar and lidar technology.”
The shift to sensor-based tracking required an additional year of research and millions in investments, according to Anton.
“This system supports precise tracking of player movement and ball trajectory, measuring distances, successful shots, and attempts while protecting privacy,” Anton explained.
Final thoughts
We have some reservations about the future of the Huupe Mini. The announcement of in-game currency hints that microtransactions may be on the horizon, potentially raising costs beyond the initial $799. (Currently, the product is usually offered at $599, enhancing its attractiveness.)
The battery tends to deplete quickly, which isn’t a significant concern for a device intended for indoor use that