HomePod Mini Launches in Denmark, Likely Ruling Out New Model in Near Future

[MacRumors]

Apple today began selling the HomePod mini and the second-generation HomePod in Denmark, after launching the speakers in Singapore last month.

Apple first released the HomePod mini in October 2020 in the U.S. and select other countries, and the speaker and has not received any major hardware upgrades since, but new color options launched in November 2021 and the speaker's temperature and humidity sensor was enabled earlier this year. The launch of the HomePod mini in Denmark today likely rules out a second-generation model of the speaker launching in the near future.

Apple had discontinued the full-size HomePod in 2021, but the company introduced a second-generation model in January. The new HomePod features a similar design as the original smart speaker, with a larger backlit touch surface and a few other improvements. Despite having two fewer tweeters, reviews found the new HomePod sounds virtually the same as the original, but Siri still has shortcomings compared to other virtual assistants.

(Thanks, Kasper!)

Article Link: HomePod Mini Launches in Denmark, Likely Ruling Out New Model in Near Future

 

[CharlesShaw]

Finally. I imagine that speaker consumers in Denmark are starving for good design. /s

 

[Lioness~]

Finally they (the larger Home-Pods) have officially reached Sweden too. The Mini's have been available for awhile.

 

[nutmac]

The smaller HomePod mini was introduced in 2020 and has not received any hardware changes since beyond new color options. The launch of the HomePod mini in Denmark today likely rules out a second-generation model launching in the near future.

While technically not a new hardware change, Apple enabling the temperature and humidity sensors was a nice surprise.

I hope to see an updated HomePod mini with on-device Siri and improved audio quality this year.

 

[TheHammer]

This im more than okay with, some products such as Display's, speakers and accessories don't need regular hardware updates. I have 4 OG HomePods (all purchased from family/friends for ~$150US) and 1 one Mini. There are all still solid as a rock. I do believe that minor revisions will happen, nothing that will make me want to upgrade (similar to Gen2).

 

[Rafterman]

They'd sell so many more of these if they opened up bluetooth to non-Apple devices.

 

[castor]

Without News or Spotify these devices are little more than very expensive kitchen timers. Trying to use Siri in localised Scandinavian language is 90% frustration, 10% hilarious.
We gave up.

 

[svish]

Good to see it available in one more country. Wonder why Apple takes a long time to launch these in various countries.

 

[User 6502]

Without News or Spotify these devices are little more than very expensive kitchen timers. Trying to use Siri in localised Scandinavian language is 90% frustration, 10% hilarious.
We gave up.

Don’t worry, even using Siri in English is 90% frustration. The HomePod is an and always will be an overpriced paperweight until apple fixes that embarrassment that Siri is. But I’m not holding my breath.

 

[allseeingi’s]

We have 2 Homepod mini’s ( stereo mode) in our garden room , has worked well most of the time but there have been some instances where one has disconnected and Siri deciding to be less than helpful when asking it for a simple request .

Like many others I cannot fathom why  have not addressed this literal elephant in the room and improved Siri so it is the equal of Alexa and Google .

 

[DekuSprout]

Finally in Denmark! 🇩🇰 😀

 

[Drewps5co0tt]

I hope to see an updated HomePod mini with on-device Siri and improved audio quality this year.

I'm afraid you're not going to see that lol

 

[tomtad]

The “new” HomePod mini is the new “square edged” Apple Watch. As in it’s not happening.

Maybe they’ll give it a chip bump in a couple of years but apart from that it won’t change for a long time.

 

[dampfnudel]

So how did Danes get their hands on one before, drive over to Germany? I don’t know if any of my Danish relatives have one, but at least now they can order one direct from Apple if they want either model.

 

[MacFan23]

Don’t worry, even using Siri in English is 90% frustration. The HomePod is an and always will be an overpriced paperweight until apple fixes that embarrassment that Siri is. But I’m not holding my breath.

Siri isn’t great at answering questions, but these work really well in a HomeKit household. Better than Google assistant for sure for home control.

 

[SBlue1]

No need for new hardware or design, just give us some new colors every year.