Apple’s HomePod mini could be about to receive its biggest upgrade since the compact smart speaker first arrived in 2020, with a second-generation model rumored to bring a faster processor, improved audio and upgraded connectivity.
The HomePod mini 2 is expected to retain a familiar design while receiving significant changes on the inside, as reported by 9to5Mac. The refresh could arrive as part of Apple’s wider push into the smart home, with new Home hardware expected over the coming months.
One of the biggest changes is expected to be a substantially faster processor. The current HomePod mini still uses the S5 chip first introduced with Apple Watch Series 5 in 2019, while reports have suggested its successor could move to an S9-class chip or newer hardware capable of supporting Apple’s next generation of Siri features.
The Apple Post previously reported that the next-generation HomePod mini and Apple TV hardware had reportedly been finished for months, with the devices said to have already been in use among employees at Apple Park.
Image: Apple
Siri could ultimately prove to be the most important part of the HomePod mini 2 upgrade. Apple is preparing a more capable assistant with greater conversational abilities, personal context and improved handling of follow-up requests, giving the HomePod a potentially much larger role around the home.
Audio quality is also expected to improve, although specific details about changes to the speaker hardware have yet to emerge. A newer processor could allow Apple to make further improvements to computational audio alongside any physical changes inside the speaker.
Connectivity could receive an overhaul too. Rumors have pointed to newer Wi-Fi and Bluetooth hardware, potentially using Apple’s N1 networking chip, as well as an upgraded Ultra Wideband chip that could improve proximity features such as handing music between an iPhone and HomePod mini.
Apple may also introduce new color options. The overall spherical design is expected to remain largely unchanged, suggesting the HomePod mini 2 will focus more heavily on performance and intelligence than a visual redesign.
References to what is believed to be the next-generation HomePod mini were recently discovered in Apple software, adding further evidence that the new model is moving closer to launch.
The timing could fit with Apple’s broader smart-home plans. Apple Stores are reportedly preparing changes ahead of a wave of new Home products, while an updated Apple TV 4K and a new smart-home display are also rumored.
Pricing remains one of the biggest unknowns surrounding the HomePod mini 2. With upgraded hardware expected across several areas, Apple could keep the speaker positioned as its lower-cost entry point into the HomePod lineup while using the new model to showcase its more advanced Siri experience.