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9to5Mac's daily podcast rounded up its top stories for October 13, 2026, covering reported developments related to HomeView, the Apple TV 4K, and the HomePod mini. The episode was sponsored by Backblaze and is available through Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, TuneIn, Google Play, and 9to5Mac's RSS feed.
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 has launched HomeView, its first smart display, at a starting price of $299, alongside an updated Apple TV 4K that now also costs $299. The Apple TV 4K price marks another increase from its earlier $249 tag, following a price hike applied to existing Apple products back in June.
Apple has released a new Apple TV 4K featuring the A19 chip, up from the A15 Bionic used in the 2022 third-generation model. The new box adds a built-in three-microphone array for hands-free 'Siri' voice activation, an updated Siri Remote with Precision Finding support, and the new Siri AI assistant, which Apple says will also reach second- and third-generation Apple TV models.
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.
Apple announced that its new Siri AI features, launching with the redesigned Apple TV 4K, will also come as beta software to Apple TV 4K units dating back to the second generation released in 2021. The update will arrive as part of tvOS 27.2 this fall, on or before the new Apple TV 4K's November 13 release date.
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 announced a fourth-generation Siri Remote featuring Precision Finding support and a built-in speaker for locating a lost remote. The $59 accessory is compatible with both the new Apple TV 4K and older Apple TV HD and 4K models, and ships November 13 alongside the new $299 Apple TV 4K.
Apple unveiled HomeView, a wall- or tabletop-mountable smart home hub with a 7-inch screen that recognizes individual household members by face and shows them relevant information. The device starts at $299 and ships Nov. 13, alongside a refreshed $299 Apple TV 4K with a trackable remote and a $149 HomePod Mini in new colors. All three products feature Apple's recently released Siri AI, letting users carry conversations from the hub to their iPhone or iPad.
Apple introduced the HomePod mini 2 at its smart home event, raising the price to $149 from the original's $99 launch price in 2020. The new speaker features an S10 chip for improved audio performance, smart home alarm detection, a glowing visual display called 'Sound Glow,' and tighter integration with other Apple devices. Siri AI-powered multi-turn conversations were announced but will arrive later via software update, with pre-orders starting immediately and shipping October 30.
Apple announced Apple Home Collection, a line of smart cameras, thermostats, a video doorbell and a smart deadbolt lock made in partnership with LG Electronics and Schneider Electric. The devices, priced from about $40 to $400, set up via iPhone and are managed entirely through the Apple Home app without separate accounts. Apple says availability starts in December, with some products arriving in early 2027.