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Apple told 9to5Mac that the new Siri AI features will be exclusive to the HomePod mini 2 and Apple TV 4K (2nd generation or later), not the original HomePod mini. This came after a CNET report mistakenly claimed the S5-powered original HomePod mini would gain Siri AI compatibility via iOS 27.2 later this year; CNET has since corrected that story.
Apple has released the HomePod mini 2, six years after the original HomePod mini launched. The new speaker introduces Siri AI capabilities—including natural conversation, broader world knowledge and personal context from apps like Messages and email—powered by a new S10 chip, along with a light-up 'Sound Glow' visual feature. The original HomePod mini, which uses an older S5 chip and four microphones versus three in the new model, will not receive Siri AI support.
A leaker named pdfu spotted changes to Apple's HomePod 2 product page, including a glow effect matching the HomePod mini 2's Siri AI visuals and alt text describing a 'multi-colored Siri AI glow on top.' The HomePod mini 2 itself ships with Siri AI support enabled by its S10 chip, while the original HomePod mini lacks this capability.
Apple revealed the second-generation HomePod mini at its Welcome Home event, alongside new Apple TV 4K, a HomeView smart-home hub, and Apple Home smart accessories. The speaker keeps a similar design to its predecessor but adds a new lighting feature called Sound Glow and will later gain an upgraded Siri AI via software update in eight countries including the US and UK. It can function alone or link with up to three other units for multi-room audio, and works with Apple Intelligence-enabled devices to handle simple contextual tasks.
Apple's updated Apple TV 4K adds far-field microphones for hands-free Siri commands and uses AI to pull context from apps like Messages, letting users ask it to play shows mentioned in texts. Siri can also answer trivia about on-screen content, displaying text-only responses in a corner of the screen rather than speaking over audio. The new Siri Remote can also emit a sound to help users locate it, similar to the AirPods 'find' feature.
Apple's new HomePod mini 2 replaces the 2019 model's S5 chip with the more powerful S10, enabling Siri AI capabilities such as natural conversation and more accurate general knowledge answers, though this won't be available at launch. The speaker also gains a visual feature called Sound Glow, which syncs its touch-surface lighting with music and album artwork, and supports multi-speaker surround sound setups with other HomePod units via Apple TV.
Apple has released the HomePod Mini 2, replacing a model that had gone unchanged for six years. The new speaker runs on Apple's S10 chip, also used in the Apple Watch Series 10 and 11, and adds Siri AI support, surround sound pairing with Apple TV 4K, and an LED lighting feature tied to audio playback. It retains prior capabilities such as HomeKit hub functions, Sound Recognition alerts, and its compact design.
At its 'Welcome Home' event, Apple introduced the HomePod Mini 2, a four-inch smart speaker powered by the new S10 chip that optimizes music playback in real time. The speaker starts at $149, ships in five new colors on October 30, and will later gain expanded Siri AI capabilities through a software update. Basic Siri functions like reminders, questions, and Apple Home device control are available at launch.
Apple's website confirms that HomePod mini 2, shipping October 30, will not include the Siri AI assistant features advertised as a key selling point at launch. A footnote on Apple's site states Siri AI is 'coming in a future software update,' with the delay also confirmed in Apple's press release.
Apple has announced a new Apple TV 4K streaming box featuring an A19 chip, said to be 50% faster with double the graphics power of its predecessor's A15 chip, plus three far-field microphones for hands-free Siri use. The device, priced at $299, also supports pairing with two HomePod Mini 2 speakers for four-speaker surround sound and is available for pre-order now, shipping November 13.
Apple has announced a new Apple TV 4K featuring Siri AI, a conversational version of Siri built on its next-generation Apple Intelligence, along with built-in far-field microphones for hands-free voice control. The device offers faster performance and, when paired with HomePod mini 2 or HomePod (2nd generation) speakers, supports a more immersive surround sound home theater setup. Pre-orders open today, with availability starting November 13.
Apple announced a refreshed $299 Apple TV 4K featuring an A19 chip, three far-field microphones for remote-free Siri commands, and an updated remote with a built-in speaker to help locate it. The device also supports four-speaker surround sound when paired with HomePod mini 2 or HomePod 2, and integrates Apple's updated Siri for content discovery and recommendations. Pre-orders begin today, with availability starting November 13.