GoKawiilAccording to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple Stores are currently facing inventory shortages for three key products: HomePod, HomePod mini, and Apple TV 4K. This isn’t necessarily a sign of an imminent update, though it is worth noting the latter two products are due for a refresh.
When an Apple product is about to get updated, you’ll often notice dwindling inventory for the current model. Usually, that means longer-than-usual delivery times and less in-store availability. In today’s Power On newsletter, Mark Gurman from Bloomberg reports the following:
Stop me if you’ve heard this before: Retail inventory of the full-sized HomePod, the HomePod mini and the Apple TV set-top box is running low at Apple retail stores around the world. Shortages more often than not mean that updated products are on the way. But let’s not jump to any conclusions here. Apple has had fresh versions of at least the Apple TV and HomePod mini ready since last year, but it’s held off on releasing them because the company is waiting for the new Siri and other artificial intelligence upgrades.
He also floats the possibility that Apple could release new Apple TV 4K and HomePod mini models prior to the debut of its fully capable Apple Intelligence Siri, remarking that “if the new hardware is indeed coming soon, it probably means Apple just got tired of waiting.”
Later on, he also notes that the larger HomePod is also seeing dwindling stock, despite being updated much more recently than the HomePod mini. Right now, there aren’t any rumors for a new big HomePod, but it wouldn’t surprise me if one is near in the pipeline – just so it can stay in line with the upcoming HomePod mini.
The next version of Apple TV 4K is expected to gain the A17 Pro to support Apple Intelligence, up from the current A15 Bionic. HomePod mini, on the other hand, is expected to gain a newer chip to support Apple Intelligence capabilities, up from the current S5. It should also offer some fresh new colors.
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