GoKawiilApple adds Sound Glow light feature to HomePod mini and HomePod (2nd-gen)
Apple is rolling out Sound Glow, a feature that lights up the touch surface of HomePod mini and the second-generation HomePod with colors drawn from the currently playing song's album artwork. The feature requires software version 27.2, is enabled via the Home app or Apple TV Control Center, and does not work on the original HomePod.
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The addition signals Apple continuing to invest in ambient, lifestyle-oriented features for its smart speaker lineup even as HomePod's hardware market presence remains modest. Excluding the original HomePod suggests the feature may rely on hardware capabilities only present in newer models, which could nudge owners of older units toward upgrading.
- Sound Glow displays animated colors from album artwork on HomePod mini and 2nd-gen HomePod touch surfaces.
- Requires updating to software version 27.2 and can be toggled via the Home app or Apple TV Control Center.
- The original first-generation HomePod does not support the feature.
Apple HomePod mini — The HomePod mini is one of the speakers that supports the new Sound Glow feature, turning your music into an ambient light show based on album artwork. It's a compact, affordable way to add smart speaker functionality and a bit of colorful flair to any room.
See Apple HomePod mini on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: 9to5mac.com — Benjamin Mayo, 2026-10-19
Published there as: “Your HomePod has a colorful new party trick: how to enable Sound Glow”
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