HomePod Mini Launching in More Countries, Can Be Used as Apple TV Speaker Starting This Fall

[MacRumors]

Apple today announced that the HomePod mini can be set as a default speaker output on the Apple TV 4K starting later this year.

Apple also announced that the HomePod mini will be available to purchase in Austria, Ireland, and New Zealand starting later this month, followed by Italy later this year. The speaker first launched in November 2020.

In March, Apple announced that the full-sized HomePod would be discontinued once supplies run out, following years of reportedly lackluster sales. Apple said it would focus its efforts on the HomePod mini, which costs $99.

Article Link: HomePod Mini Launching in More Countries, Can Be Used as Apple TV Speaker Starting This Fall

 

[Smoovejayy]

I wonder if this is available for the first Apple TV 4K.

 

[GermanSuplex]

That's great, but what about the original HomePod? It's still a capable speaker. Hopefully it gets the ability to set as a default output as well, and they're just not advertising it because they're focusing on the mini.

 

[Techwatcher]

Finally lol.

 

[Dwalls90]

That's great, but what about the original HomePod? It's still a capable speaker. Hopefully it gets the ability to set as a default output as well, and they're just not advertising it because they're focusing on the mini.

You already can

 

[Dwalls90]

I wonder if this is available for the first Apple TV 4K.

I'm also curious about this. They said "Apple TV 4K" though, so assuming both first and second gen.

 

[csalm87]

That's great, but what about the original HomePod? It's still a capable speaker. Hopefully it gets the ability to set as a default output as well, and they're just not advertising it because they're focusing on the mini.

You can already set the original HomePod as default speakers.

 

[H3LL5P4WN]

No mention of Atmos/Spacial Audio support using them though.

 

[4filth]

That's great, but what about the original HomePod? It's still a capable speaker. Hopefully it gets the ability to set as a default output as well, and they're just not advertising it because they're focusing on the mini.

This is a feature which is already on the original Homepods and has been for quite some time…

 

[bozzykid]

I wonder if this is available for the first Apple TV 4K.

I'm sure it will. The first gen already supports doing this with the original HomePod.

 

[coachgq]

No mention of Atmos/Spacial Audio support using them though.

That's what I'm currious about. If those are possible, then I'm all over it.

 

[Mkanto93]

So can I now set up surround sound with my two original homepods in the front and two HomePod minis in the back?!

 

[fwmireault]

That's great, but what about the original HomePod? It's still a capable speaker. Hopefully it gets the ability to set as a default output as well, and they're just not advertising it because they're focusing on the mini.

You can already do that on first Gen Apple TV 4K (beware, Apple TV HD doesn’t have this feature)

 

[Kobra]

I don’t get it, why doesn’t Apple release the HompePods in Scandinavia? The smart speaker market is huge here

 

[Dwalls90]

I don’t get it, why doesn’t Apple release the HompePods in Scandinavia? The smart speaker market is huge here

I think they said they're bringing it to more countries this year, so maybe they are now?

 

[gregohb]

I hate this thing. I try to use it as a speaker for M1 Mini - but whenever my iPhone is anywhere near it, it won't sound at all. It also draws so much power than I can't plug it into the Mac mini - and have to plug it into its own wall socket. Also the cable is permanently attached so can't be replaced. No matter how many times I turn off Siri - it still randomly pipes up in response to comments or tv announcers. Yet another example of Apple being too controlling and trying to make everyone use it according their ideas.

 

[Rooster 🐓]

So can I now set up surround sound with my two original homepods in the front and two HomePod minis in the back?!

That’s what I would like to know.

I already had a stereo pair of homepods, and bought the new Apple TV 4K to go with them and my LG CX OLED. Boy them homepods sound amazing with e-arc and Atmos.

You can have the TV audio and the homepods play at the same time, but it’s out of sync (even after using the Apple TV audio sync feature on the iPhone).

Now if you could have a pair of homepod minis as well….that would be an awesome home cinema set up 👏🏻

 

[Chefclean]

Have I time traveled? I ALREADY use my HomePod Mini's on my Apple TV.

 

[MauiPa]

"Can Be Used as Apple TV Speaker Starting This Fall".
I don't get this, I'm already using a stereo pair of minis as an appletv speaker. Works great. so what is really coming, or why did they mention

 

[MauiPa]

You can already set the original HomePod as default speakers.

And dolby atmosphere sounds terrific

 

[MauiPa]

That’s what I would like to know.

I already had a stereo pair of homepods, and bought the new Apple TV 4K to go with them and my LG CX OLED. Boy them homepods sound amazing with e-arc and Atmos.

You can have the TV audio and the homepods play at the same time, but it’s out of sync (even after using the Apple TV audio sync feature on the iPhone).

Now if you could have a pair of homepod minis as well….that would be an awesome home cinema set up 👏🏻

It is an LG problem, I don't know what. I used an LG at my daughters house - out of synch, echos. Any other TV I tried, works great. I read it might be LG's sound processing, so I thought I turned that off, but it did not go away.

So curious, I do not get that issue on Samsung TVs, or a Toshiba cheapo TV. But the LG?

 

[emdub]

The new E-ARC thing on the latest Apple TV 4K is a game changer! I now have my stereo pair homepods playing all sounds from my TV. Im pretty sure the mini will never have a similar sound.

 

[H3LL5P4WN]

That's what I'm currious about. If those are possible, then I'm all over it.

Same here. I was holding off on full-size HomePods for my parents because of the price, then I was holding off on the Minis until they had most of the features of the big ones.
I guess just being able to use them instead of a sound bar would be enough for them.

 

[Deliro]

I'm also curious about this. They said "Apple TV 4K" though, so assuming both first and second gen.

Yes it’s just a minor software update to include the mini. You can already make the full size HomePod default. Nothing revolutionary here.

 

[DempaX]

I don’t get it, why doesn’t Apple release the HompePods in Scandinavia? The smart speaker market is huge here

Yeah, it is because of Siri coverage I presume and priorities. But I bought two minis in Sweden from Warehouse204 recently. Using them with English language as all our other Apple devices anyway.