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Apple announced a free software update bringing three new features to the existing HomePod (2nd generation), alongside this week's launch of HomePod mini 2, HomeView and a new Apple TV 4K. The update adds Sound Glow lighting effects synced to music, the ability to set HomePod as the default Mac speaker, and support for four-HomePod surround sound when paired with the new Apple TV 4K.
Apple held a smart home event introducing the HomeView smart display, a fourth-generation Apple TV 4K, and a refreshed HomePod mini, according to discussion on 9to5Mac's Happy Hour podcast. Hosts Benjamin Mayo and Chance Miller also noted the new Apple TV's high price and shared their first impressions of the devices.
Apple is set to release the iPhone Duo on October 23, HomePod mini 2 on October 30, and new Macs with an OLED iPad mini around November 6, followed by HomeView and Apple TV 4K on November 13, according to analyst Mark Gurman. Gurman says Apple stores will undergo a major floor reset the evening of November 5 into November 6 to accommodate the new Mac and iPad mini launches.
Apple unveiled a Home Collection of smart devices including a HomeView panel, HomePod mini, Apple TV 4K, and nine accessories ranging from $40 sensors to $400 security cameras. A ZDNET reviewer, evaluating the lineup from a renter's perspective, singled out LG's $200 Indoor Cam as a standout pick due to its lamp-like design, automatic privacy mode, and lack of wall-mounting requirement.
Amazon has expanded pre-order discounts on the newly unveiled Apple HomeView to its Silver, Space Gray, and Rose Pink colorways, each priced at $289.99, while the Starlight model has returned to full price. Separately, Best Buy is offering pre-orders on Apple's new HomePod mini 2 with double rewards points for members, alongside other Apple deals including a $220 discount on the 1TB M5 Max Mac Studio and a $600 cut on an M5 Pro MacBook Pro.
Apple has introduced HomeView, a $299 smart display resembling an oversized Apple Watch mounted on a HomePod Mini base. The device is designed to sit permanently in one spot in the home, staying powered on and unlocked, and supports switching between multiple household users' accounts for controlling Apple Home devices, calendars and music.
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 confirmed that its upcoming Siri AI features, part of Apple Intelligence, will extend beyond its new fourth-generation Apple TV 4K and HomePod Mini 2 to older second- and third-generation Apple TV 4K models and existing HomePod Minis. The update is expected later this year via a TVOS 27.2 beta, rolling out first in the US, Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa and the UK in English.
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 unveiled a new line of smart home hardware called the Apple Home Collection at its 'Welcome Home' event in New York. The lineup, built with LG and Schneider Electric, includes indoor and outdoor cameras, a video doorbell, thermostats, and a smart deadbolt lock, alongside a new HomePod mini, Apple TV 4K, and the HomeView smart display and hub.