HomePod Software 26 to Support OG HomePod

[MacRumors]

Apple's upcoming HomePod Software 26 update will support the original first-generation HomePod along with all succeeding HomePod models, according to a private account on X with a proven track record for upcoming software updates.

Apple released the original HomePod eight years ago, so it's good to see that Apple's latest software will support it. As for what the new software will bring to the table in terms of new features, it's not yet clear, but hopefully improvements to the Siri experience are forthcoming.

Rather than naming the next-generation version HomePod Software 19, Apple is likely to call it HomePod Software 26. All of the major software updates coming this year will be numbered "26," reflecting the September 2025 to September 2026 release cycle, so it'd be weird for the HomePod Software not to receive the same treatment.

The HomePod family is expected to grow in size this year or next, with the arrival of Apple's long-rumored smart home hub. We're hoping that Apple provides an early preview of the home hub at WWDC, based on recent trademarking activity.

Apple's WWDC 2025 keynote will begin on Monday, June 9 at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time. Apple will live stream the event on its website, on YouTube, and in the TV app. If you're not able to watch live, we'll have a live blog and coverage of the announcements here at MacRumors, plus we'll be live tweeting the event on the MacRumorsLive account.

Article Link: HomePod Software 26 to Support OG HomePod

 

[abatabia]

I have one left in partial service from my original pair so that’s good news.

 

[iJulio]

I have one left in partial service from my original pair so that’s good news.

I have 2 original HomePods working without issues in my living room since release. There's no reason why they shouldn't get software updates, it's just a speaker.

 

[Isentropic]

To be honest, I think part of this is because of tariffs. Consumers might need to keep their devices longer instead of replacing every 2 to 4 years. So Apple is needing to provide software updates more long-term. This may actually be good for the environment and consumers.

PS: this is not a political post. Just from my engineering perspective.

 

[fatTribble]

All four of my original HomePods are still going strong. We use them every day.

 

[spaxxedout]

I thought it was called AudioOS.

Great products. Would be cool if they added support for more than two. Multi-speaker setups need a lot of calibration and they’re great at that.

 

[WarmWinterHat]

To be honest, I think part of this is because of tariffs. Consumers might need to keep their devices longer instead of replacing every 2 to 4 years. So Apple is needing to provide software updates more long-term. This may actually be good for the environment and consumers.

PS: this is not a political post. Just from my engineering perspective.

People should be keeping all their devices longer, regardless of tariffs, but as for replacing a HomePod, why? Unless it's broken, a new one does exactly the same thing.

Good on Apple!

 

[tomtad]

These things should last for decades, it's a speaker. There's no reason why they should be obsolete and be e-waste in the space of 4 years, they were still on sale in 2021.

 

[Vado]

Thats great news! I was worried that this might be the year Apple dropped support for them with the rumoured new HomePod with screen/homeOS device possibly being introduced.

Still have three OG HomePods (1x Stereo Pair and 1x Standalone) and use them everyday along with my two HomePod mini's.

 

[appleuser21]

"Apple released the original HomePod eight years ago"

 

[Stuipdboy1000]

I thought it was called AudioOS.

Great products. Would be cool if they added support for more than two. Multi-speaker setups need a lot of calibration and they’re great at that.

Internally I think it's called audioOS, publicly it's called HomePod Software, and it is technically a variant of tvOS. Not confusing at all!

Hopefully all Home products this year switch to the rumoured homeOS and it unifies things a bit.

 

[maxfromdenmark]

To be honest, I think part of this is because of tariffs. Consumers might need to keep their devices longer instead of replacing every 2 to 4 years. So Apple is needing to provide software updates more long-term. This may actually be good for the environment and consumers.

PS: this is not a political post. Just from my engineering perspective.

I cannot see any point in changing HomePods so often anyway.

 

[James_C]

I originally bought four OG HomePods, two are still working fine. Two sadly died (No Power to them) - Probably due to shorted diode on the amplifier board, which is a common issue on the OG HomePods.

 

[Supermacguy]

"OG" seems like a not well known abbreviation. Also sort of stuck in time. I don't feel it's a good term to use in a headline as too many of us uncool people might not understand it.
For reference, it's "original gangster" as in, the first one

 

[syklee26]

HomePod itself is awesome. It is such a pity that it only works with Apple devices.

with that said, what features would HomePod Software 26 have? Devices like HomePod would be awesome for live translation.

 

[CloneBB]

All 5 are still working great.

 

[walnuts]

Yeah.. just echoing what others have said...they aren't perfect but they are nice. They may be "connected" but I still expect them to act as a speaker for a very long time (my non-connected speakers are more than 20 years old and work great). Plus, they are an investment...its not like your phone or even your computer where you have one that gets replaced every once in a while... I have several across several rooms... I don't expect to have to replace all of them some day because they are a "tech product".

That said, I get if it if they don't get new features... just keep them doing what they did when I opened the box.

 

[AAPLGeek]

Good time to upgrade

 

[Premium1]

I have 2 original HomePods working without issues in my living room since release. There's no reason why they shouldn't get software updates, it's just a speaker.

Agree. I am okay if it doesn't get all the bells and whistles with AI and siri, but there is no reason for support to end with it.

 

[dustin_]

Plus, they are an investment...

I love my HomePods, and expect them to continue working into the future, but they are absolutely not an investment. They are a consumer product like everything else Apple sells.

 

[cocky jeremy]

People should be keeping all their devices longer,

Why? If there are new features I want, I'm upgrading. I've had every single cycle of iPhone except the iPhone 12 series.

 

[deadspider187]

I have 2 original HomePods working without issues in my living room since release. There's no reason why they shouldn't get software updates, it's just a speaker.

Hey, don't forget now, it also has an "intelligent" digital assistant!

Joking aside, I bought an OG pair for $400 through some sort of Best Buy discount a long while ago, and they sound great in a pair. My largest gripe with them is the lack of traditional Bluetooth, no wired inputs, and Siri continues to be half-deaf and has a severe case of dementia. I think if they can improve Siri and get the price down to $199 they would be in every living room that has an Apple TV. Hell, I'd put a mini in every room of my house if Siri worked > 50% of the time.

 

[Colpeas]

I have 2 original HomePods working without issues in my living room since release. There's no reason why they shouldn't get software updates, it's just a speaker.

There is no reason they should need a software update, it’s just a speaker.

 

[Student of Life]

Why? If there are new features I want, I'm upgrading. I've had every single cycle of iPhone except the iPhone 12 series.

Ok but what features would make you update speakers? I can understand better sound quality. They do airplay so you already get some version of lossless. They are speakers, it’s not a phone.

 

[il_teo77]

As an owner, on one hand I am happy. On the other hand though it's not like the last couple of updates brought anything significant (which is not per se "bad") and I read this as to mean that any better Siri or LLM capabilities are not for this cycle...