Apple's HomePod Mini 2 Might Not Get This Rumored Feature After All

[HiFifreak]

And this “
provided by a MacRumors tipster. “ might be Gurman by any chance? 😀

 

[lazyrighteye]

Speaking of AppleTV... Where the F is the new box?!?

OK... I feel better. Thanks.

 

[Powerbooky]

I just wish the homepods had ethernet. All the household ‘fixed’ devices (apple tv, panasonic tv, sonos speakers, desktops, printers, NAS etc.) have an ethernet connection, to cut down the wifi usage. Heck, I use an usb-c ethernet adapter on my iPad, and my youngest son has ethernet on his gaming laptop.

I’d even (begrudgingly) pay like 10 euros extra for the choice, like you can with the Apple TV. Don’t need ethernet, get the cheap one. Need ethernet get the higher level model.

That would be something, ethernet + PoE.
More realistic would be a USB-C / Thunderbolt socket. That would create the option to have ethernet + PoE too.

 

[subjonas]

What exactly does this chip enable though? Just goes a little faster? Is a new chip or a small speed increase in itself a feature? I think of a feature as some new function you couldn't do before, like Intercom or humidity sensor. Maybe if the speed is very noticeable, but otherwise it's just something written on a spec sheet for bragging rights that makes no meaningful difference. Maybe I just use the word feature differently, but to me this is just a spec bump (or lack of in this case).

 

[svendobbelaere]

Speaking of AppleTV... Where the F is the new box?!?

OK... I feel better. Thanks.

At this point in time, we’ve been waiting so long what’s another few months?

*sigh*

 

[Populus]

I refused to buy the current HomePod mini precisely because of the outdated radios, and I’m not going to get the HomePod mini if it doesn’t come with at least WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5. No way.

 

[AussieStu]

Is there an alterivive to the homepod mini?

 

[svish]

If this happens to be true, then it will be a long time before a version with Apple's own chip is released considering that Apple does not update these devices frequently.

 

[GoodTimeNotALongTime]

Why are so many Macrumors article headlines clickbait now? This used to be a respected tech website.

‘You won’t believe what happened when this lady switched on her iPhone 17…’

 

[DougieS]

The headline has it backwards. It should read "The Rumour About Feature XYZ Was False."



View attachment 2588512

Or "The Rumour About Hardware XYZ Was False." As it’s a chip, not a software feature.

 

[satchmo]

Will these finally work as usable speakers for a Mac? Meaning without lags in apps or it inherent with AirPlay?

 

[t0rqx]

They downgraded this chip from Wifi6 to Wifi5? You expect them to put an N1 into it?

 

[jpotisch2]

We just ragequit our HomePod Mini 1 and bought an Echo Dot. The HomePod was disappointing from the get-go and got steadily worse over time. It can't do much of anything if it can't connect to your phone, over half the time it failed to recognize my wife's voice and said "you'll have to authenticate on your iPhone first", and Siri just got less and less able to hear words correctly or understand even the simplest of instructions. But at least it was slow as hell when it did work. As much as I had to hold my nose while ordering the Echo, it works seamlessly, something the HomePod was never ever in any danger of accomplishing.

I could care less about which networking chip this new one gets. The only way I'd consider getting it is to get confirmation that they fired (or executed) everyone involved with the first one, the reviews are uniformly stellar, and mine comes with a handwritten note of apology!

 

[tyrnnsrs]

If the MacOS dev kit is from earlier this year, it is entirely possible and likely that whatever was indicated for the Homepods in there will differ from what they actually release in the end next year.

 

[dcingie]

Waiting five years for a device refresh only for them to use outdated technology that will be slow and laggy within months is so Tim Cook.

 

[k1121j]

Well naturally it’s all about the bottom line not amazing top notch products anymore.

 

[k1121j]

And why do we care what chip is used, so long as the product delivers on the product specifications? I fail to understand why this makes any difference whatsoever.

The HomePod Mini is a low end, low cost speaker and microphone you can use to access the Apple ecosystem via Siri. Nothing else. It sounds terrible and Siri has some significant shortcomings if you want a responsive audio Ai interface. The HomePod Mini needs to sound better and Siri needs to improve (if that is your thing) not improve its network connections. I am not even sure why this is being reported to be honest. Does the lack of the so called N1 chip affect any of these things. Come on MacRumors lets find something else to fill the web page.

You hit a point there Siri likely does not need anything faster than the slowness it already has. Slow Siri = high latent slow speed WiFi

 

[bmark]

Next rumor is N1 chip is out of new Apple 4K box.

 

[seek3r]

And why do we care what chip is used, so long as the product delivers on the product specifications? I fail to understand why this makes any difference whatsoever.

One of the biggest problems with the HP Mini is it needs better connectivity in areas with crowded spectrum, the hope was that this new chip would be good for that. Doesnt mean what it will get will be bad, but this seemed a surer bet

The HomePod Mini is a low end, low cost speaker and microphone you can use to access the Apple ecosystem via Siri.

Yes, which is why connectivity is important

Nothing else. It sounds terrible

For the price it’s got solid sound, and it sounds a lot better than anything else similar I can think of at even close to its normal price point, let alone when it frequently goes on sale for significantly less than MSRP at Costco et al

and Siri has some significant shortcomings if you want a responsive audio Ai interface.

Eh, I havent really had problems with that part of things

The HomePod Mini needs to sound better

I disagree, again for its price and purpose it sounds great

and Siri needs to improve (if that is your thing)

Sure

not improve its network connections.

One of the bigger problems with Siri improving is making sure there’s less lag between requests and responses for things it pings your phone for, or reaches out to the web for, or avoids stepping on other apple devices while responding (ever notice there’s a bit of a laggy play by play when devices figure out which should respond on slow networks?), all are helped or outright fixed by having better connectivity…

I am not even sure why this is being reported to be honest. Does the lack of the so called N1 chip affect any of these things.

See above

 

[hgfjhbvytjdnb]

I could care less

So it doesn't bother you that much, then.

 

[tennisproha]

So Apple's most useless product will continue to be irrelevant. Glad I never bought any more