HomePod It´s official: The Homepod Mini does not support Dolby Atmos

[B/D]

According to this support article by Apple (Published Date: September 20, 2021).

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204069

"Your Apple TV and HomePod speakers automatically play sound in Dolby Atmos or surround sound if it's available with content that you watch. HomePod mini doesn't support Dolby Atmos. If you want to set up home theater audio with HomePod, find out how."

So no Atmos in Apple Music content in the upcoming software update (just lossless) and no Atmos when paired with an Apple TV 4K either, just stereo.

Perhaps given that the OG is now discontinued and Atmos content is growing in the Apple Music catalog Apple will launch soon a soundbar or a new speaker with Atmos support.

 

[RachelleK]

So you do know that the 15.1 beta supports Atmos, right?

“Paired with the HomePod 15.1 beta (which is invite only), iOS 15.1 adds Lossless Audio and Dolby Atmos with Spatial Audio support to the ‌HomePod‌ and the HomePod mini, bringing Apple's speakers in line with iPhones, iPads, and Macs.”

 

[B/D]

So you do know that the 15.1 beta supports Atmos, right?

“Paired with the HomePod 15.1 beta (which is invite only), iOS 15.1 adds Lossless Audio and Dolby Atmos with Spatial Audio support to the ‌HomePod‌ and the HomePod mini, bringing Apple's speakers in line with iPhones, iPads, and Macs.”

Apparently not for the Mini, at least pertaining Atmos. The are reports from those in the beta that the Atmos logo its not showing for the Mini, only for the OG Homepod.

Or it could be like Atmos playing in headphones on IOS. Not truly Atmos, but the binaural recreation could be convincing enough.

But then again, they could do that right now for the surround sound tracks of the Apple TV content, and there is no Dolby 5.1 or Atmos support for the Minis there, just stereo.

Because... why Apple would say that the Mini does not support Dolby Atmos, if its going to have some form of support from it?.

And why having Atmos support for the Mini only when playing Apple Music content on their own and not when paired with an Apple TV?

No, I think Apple is very clear in their statement: The Mini does not support Dolby Atmos.


Makes sense since the Mini does not have seven tweeters with a 360º cone array form, nor does it have spatial awareness or beamforming, key technologies to simulate surround sound.

Also, the Minis can now be set as the default audio output of an Apple TV 4K, and unlike the big Homepods, Atmos is not supported there.

So I think they simply can´t support it, hardware wise.

 

[StumpyBloke]

Correct, the minis cannot support Atmos because they only have one speaker. But they do support lossless audio.