New Apple TV and HomePod Mini Are 'Nearly Ready' to Launch, New Siri Remote Also Rumored

[MacRumors]

New models of the Apple TV 4K and HomePod mini are "nearly ready to go," according to the latest word from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

Both devices have been ready "for months," but Apple is holding off on launching them until the more personalized version of Siri is available, he said.

"I am told the hardware for the next Apple TV set-top box and HomePod mini has been done for months and that both devices are already in active use among employees at the company's headquarters in Cupertino, California," wrote Gurman.

If you have been closely following Apple TV and HomePod mini rumors, this is a familiar narrative.

The revamped Siri is finally expected to launch as part of iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27, which will be unveiled during the WWDC 2026 keynote on Monday, June 8. Following beta testing, the software updates should be widely released in September, so the new Apple TV 4K and HomePod mini models should be available to purchase by then. In other words, the devices are hopefully around 3-4 months away at the latest.

The current Apple TV 4K was unveiled in October 2022, while the HomePod mini was introduced in October 2020, so there has been a long wait for the devices. Nevertheless, Gurman said "don't expect much" in terms of new features for both devices, aside from newer chips that support the more personalized version of Siri.

The current Apple TV 4K has an A15 Bionic chip from the iPhone 13 series, while the HomePod mini uses the S5 chip from the Apple Watch Series 5.

Earlier rumors claimed the next Apple TV would be equipped with the A17 Pro chip, which is the oldest chip that supports Apple Intelligence. The device is also expected to feature Apple's N1 chip for Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread.

Gurman expects the next Apple TV to have a similar design as the current model.

There is one new twist, as he was told that the Apple TV's Siri Remote may be "refreshed in some form," but he did not provide any specific details or guarantee that there will be any outward-facing design changes to the accessory.

As for the HomePod mini, it is expected to use an Apple Watch's S9 chip or newer, but it is unclear if or how that chip would fully support the new Siri powered by Apple Intelligence. Other previously-rumored features for the speaker include the N1 chip, improved sound quality, a newer Ultra Wideband chip, and a red color option.

Apple is also expected to update the full-sized HomePod and release an all-new smart home hub this year, with those devices held up by Siri too.

Article Link: New Apple TV and HomePod Mini Are 'Nearly Ready' to Launch, New Siri Remote Also Rumored

 

[Love-hate 🍏 relationship]

That means Siri is ready , right ? Right??

 

[dugbug]

New remote maybe with AirTag find accuracy?

 

[abatabia]

We have literally been hearing this for years. I’ve moved on to other devices for streaming TV. As for HomePod I’ve had so many firmware issues and so many cases open with Apple I’ve bought my last HomePod.

 

[AndrewChen]

any chance apple release the new HomePod mini on WWDC? I just noticed that the shipping time for the HomePod mini on Apple's official website has been delayed to June 10th to 17th, right after WWDC!

 

[jz0309]

Well, when they're really ready, they'll be ready, Gurman repeating himself...

 

[pavelbure]

Quit using gurman for AppleTV rumors.

 

[MayaUser]

Quit using gurman for AppleTV rumors.

Hes the best...so probably WWDC

 

[xARx2]

hasn’t it been “ready” for launch for over a year now?? this is silly.

 

[MayaUser]

WWDC or press release... Gurman is the man

 

[nickf]

Well, he'll be right eventually, I suppose.

 

[Dr McKay]

New remote maybe with AirTag find accuracy?

I would like that, currently my remote is in a bulky case to house an AirTag with it.

 

[sully54]

The Apple TV has been “ready to launch” for years that the ready to launch model already needs an upgrade.

 

[triumvirate]

So my current Apple TV will never support Apple Intelligence? All the more reason to keep it and not upgrade until it breaks lol

 

[munpip214]

Hopefully Apple upgraded their original specs that they were going to release like 2 years ago so they don’t come out already dated.

 

[Jonas Danielsson]

Let’s hope this has built in thread / matter

 

[ab2c4]

I just hope the remote can be fully used with buttons. My wife and I hate the remote that came with our first gen ATV 4k with gestures.

 

[dumastudetto]

I love the seamless experiences of Apple TV and HomePod. Watching a great show on Apple TV, before effortlessly transitioning to a listening experience with Apple Music across HomePods is really incredible.

I am excited to learn what’s next for HomePod and Apple TV.

 

[BoyRacer]

So the HomePod mini and AppleTV were ready to ship months ago, to take advantage of the AI-improved Siri demonstrated at WWDC in June 2024, advertised in autumn 2024 but then delayed to spring 2025, only to be delayed again until mid 2026.

Now that it's two years later, will the HomePod and AppleTV contain the same chips with which they were originally engineered 2 years ago?

Or will Apple 'refresh' them with newer chips?

Obviously, it would be better for customers if Apple didn't release two-year old delayed Apple TVs and HomePods as 'new' in 2026, using chips that were chosen sometime in 2024.

But despite constantly spinning their messaging to make the media and gullible customers believe they are customer-focused, Apple will almost certainly demonstrate that they are instead shareholder-focused by not updating the chips, because the profit margins on devices using newer chips would be slimmer. Shareholders love huge profit margins while customers love affordable gadgets that don't have to be replaced for many years.

 

[Blue Nova]

As long as the HomePod mini doesn’t answer me, if you ask from your iPhone I can take you to a link?.
Siri needs a new name, Siri already has a bad connotation. Maybe a HomePod with a screen, at k east show the name of the song that is playing. I use mine for Apple Music.

 

[Karllake]

So the HomePod mini and AppleTV were ready to ship months ago, to take advantage of the AI-improved Siri demonstrated at WWDC in June 2024, advertised in autumn 2024 but then delayed to spring 2025, only to be delayed again until mid 2026.

Now that it's two years later, will the HomePod and AppleTV contain the same chips with which they were originally engineered 2 years ago?

Or will Apple 'refresh' them with newer chips?

Obviously, it would be better for customers if Apple didn't release two-year old delayed Apple TVs and HomePods as 'new' in 2026, using chips that were chosen sometime in 2024.

But despite constantly spinning their messaging to make the media and gullible customers believe they are customer-focused, Apple will almost certainly demonstrate that they are instead shareholder-focused by not updating the chips, because the profit margins on devices using newer chips would be slimmer. Shareholders love huge profit margins while customers love affordable gadgets that don't have to be replaced for many years.

Totally agree, if the new ATV was waiting the new Siri, WWDC won’t be the release of the new Siri so we’re still waiting until September, unless they have a TVOS ready to ship??

Seems like more bait and switching

 

[I/0]

We have literally been hearing this for years. I’ve moved on to other devices for streaming TV. As for HomePod I’ve had so many firmware issues and so many cases open with Apple I’ve bought my last HomePod.

You moved to other devices for streaming merely because the lack of updates?

The 2022 Apple TV remains the best streaming device to date and the only one with no ads, even if it’s old it tops any Google TV box, Roku or FireTV currently on the market, I just don’t know what could you even look for in those devices that the Apple TV can’t do better.

 

[Karllake]

You moved to other devices for streaming merely because the lack of updates?

The 2022 Apple TV remains the best streaming device to date and the only one with no ads, even if it’s old it tops any Google TV box, Roku or FireTV currently on the market, I just don’t know what could you even look for in those devices that the Apple TV can’t do better.

I had exactly the same reaction to this, I’ve got a 1st gen 4K ATV and it’s absolutely great, I need a second one so am waiting for the new one to come out but there no streaming device close to the ATV, updated or not.

 

[JazJon]

Please, please fix the comfort of the Apple TV remote. The physical directional D pad on the perimeter of the touchpad hurts my thumb just to click a direction. Clicking them is the only efficient accurate way to navigate YouTube TV and YouTube. (Touch isn’t good) I often switch to my TCL remote to navigate more comfortably and go back back-and-forth.

 

[rumorphobe]

New remote makes sense. They had a poor design where I had the power button fall off. I was able to just tape it back on, but an unusual hardware design flaw from Apple.