New HomePod mini 2: Release date, features, price, and rumors

HomePod mini arrived in 2020, and nearly six years later, Apple is reportedly preparing a long-awaited second generation. Here is everything we know so far.

HomePod mini 2 release date

Apple has not confirmed that HomePod mini 2 exists, much less announced a release date.

Still, the latest reporting points to a launch this fall. Bloomberg says the new HomePod mini and Apple TV are both nearly ready, while Apple’s new smart home display is expected between October and early next year.

Apple introduced the original HomePod mini in October 2020, then added blue, orange, and yellow options later. The hardware inside has otherwise remained unchanged.

The new speaker was previously expected sooner, but Apple reportedly held it back while completing the new Siri. A spring report said the HomePod mini, new Apple TV 4K, full-size HomePod, and Apple’s smart display were all waiting on Apple’s AI work.

A much faster chip

HomePod mini 2 is expected to replace the S5 chip found in the current model with a much newer processor.

The S5 originally debuted with Apple Watch Series 5 in 2019. On HomePod mini, it powers computational audio features that tune the speaker’s sound in real time.

Previous reports have pointed to an S9 chip or newer for HomePod mini 2. Bloomberg’s newest report is less specific, saying the device will look similar to today’s model but include a faster chip designed to support Siri AI.

That wording leaves an important question unanswered. An S9-class chip is not powerful enough to run the same on-device Apple Intelligence models as a modern iPhone. Some requests may therefore rely on cloud processing or assistance from another Apple device.

Siri AI could be the biggest upgrade

Apple unveiled Siri AI with iOS 27. It includes broader world knowledge, personal context, more capable app actions, and the ability to understand follow-up questions.

Apple has not yet detailed exactly how those features will work on HomePod. The answer probably requires new hardware.

Existing HomePod models are getting some improvements through software. HomePod 27 adds AutoMix and faster AirPlay, but Apple appears to be saving the larger Siri upgrade for new hardware.

Apple is preparing a much broader smart home push around Siri AI. In addition to HomePod mini 2 and the new Apple TV 4K, the company is developing a seven-inch smart display with HomeKit controls, FaceTime, facial recognition, and a new operating system derived from tvOS.

Better sound and connectivity

Bloomberg previously reported that HomePod mini 2 will offer improved audio quality. No details have emerged about changes to the speaker, microphones, or internal acoustic design.

An updated wireless chip is also expected. Earlier reports said Apple planned to use its own Wi-Fi and Bluetooth hardware in the new model. More recent expectations have centered on the N1 chip, which could enable newer Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Thread capabilities.

HomePod mini 2 is also rumored to gain a newer Ultra Wideband chip. The current model uses U1 technology for proximity-based handoff with an iPhone. Updated hardware could make that experience faster and more precise.

HomePod mini 2 price

HomePod mini debuted at $99 in 2020, but Apple recently increased the price of the same hardware to $129. Apple attributed its wider hardware price increases to steep growth in memory and storage component costs.

That makes the next model’s price especially difficult to predict. Apple could keep HomePod mini 2 at $129, charge more for the new hardware, or eventually sell the current generation alongside it at a lower price.

Apple currently sells the HomePod mini for $129 in all five colors.

Should you buy a HomePod mini now or wait?

Most buyers should wait — at least if buying brand new.

The current HomePod mini still works well for music, timers, Intercom, and Apple Home control. It can also form a stereo pair, though the existing and next-generation models may not pair with each other.

But $129 is a substantial price for hardware introduced almost six years ago. With a replacement reportedly nearly ready, buying today means potentially missing the faster chip, new Siri experience, improved sound, and upgraded connectivity.

A discounted current model could still make sense for expanding an existing setup. At Apple’s full price, however, HomePod mini 2 appears worth waiting for.

Would Siri AI and improved sound convince you to upgrade? Let us know in the comments.