Apple has two new Home products launching this fall: an upgraded Apple TV 4K, and the next-gen HomePod mini 2. Based on a new report, Apple’s new HomePod mini could be a much bigger upgrade than we were expecting.
HomePod mini 2 could offer six new features, per Gurman
Apple’s HomePod product line has mostly been left untouched for a while now.
There was reportedly going to be a new HomePod with a screen (HomePod Touch?) launching earlier this year, but it’s been pushed to 2026 as collateral damage of Siri’s AI delays.
Since late last year, Apple has been rumored to have a new HomePod mini 2 launching by the end of 2025.
More recent reporting corroborates that timing. And per a new Mark Gurman report, the HomePod mini 2 sounds like a much bigger upgrade than we had previously expected.
Mark Gurman writes at Bloomberg:
HomePod mini…is set to get a new chip to also support the new Siri and Apple Intelligence features. It’s also due to get an updated wireless chip, a new ultra-wide band chip and improved audio quality. Apple has also tested new colors, including red.
Before now, the only solid rumor about HomePod mini 2 was that it would include Apple’s new in-house Wi-Fi/Bluetooth chip.
But this latest report mentions six specific upgrades:
A new chip to replace the current S5 Support for Apple Intelligence and the new Siri Upgraded ultra-wideband chip Improved audio quality New colors, with red possible and the previously rumored Wi-Fi/Bluetooth chip
This sounds like a huge upgrade, making the five-year wait between hardware updates feel worth it.
I’m especially excited about the prospect of Apple Intelligence coming to the new HomePod.
Once Apple’s new Siri finally does arrive next spring, any device that doesn’t support its new intelligence will feel outdated. And for the HomePod, which centers so much around Siri, AI will be an important feature.
Since the HomePod mini 2 is expected to launch soon, and Siri’s new capabilities won’t be ready yet, it will be interesting to see how Apple handles its presentation. Will it mention AI support coming, or just highlight the new chip’s upgraded power and leave the rest of the story for later?
Are you interested in buying the HomePod mini 2? Why or why not? Let us know in the comments.
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