Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

New HomePod Mini, Apple TV, and AirTag Were Expected This Year — Where Are They?

It doesn't make sense to launch a new HomePod mini without the new Siri. It does make sense to launch the A18 Pro MacBook before Christmas. The AirTags also make sense for Christmas.

As for the Apple TV, what future does it have unless it becomes a serious game console? All new TVs contain the Apple TV network and (I think) you can install the Apple TV app for rentals, etc. Older TVs are slowly being replaced. It was always a niche product that has only become more niche.

A reminder — Apple launched the AirPods Max on December 8, 2020. That was an odd launch date. Apple probably missed an earlier target date because of Covid so I wouldn't expect anything in December. It's November or 2026.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
  • Disagree
Reactions: vitordill, DEMinSoCAL and hieranonymous
Didn't Gurman report that tonight after retail Apple Stores close they will undergo an overnight store refresh? That timing + the dearth of HomePod Mini inventory seems to suggest that we may wake up tomorrow to learn some of these products have been released.
 
dannyyankou said:
Exactly. They’ll refresh it, and maybe they’re trying to time it so it’s released right before Black Friday.
Click to expand...
Haha, the hopium here is unreal. Are we actually extending this until Black Friday now?

Seriously people, if you are in the market to buy an Apple TV, please go and buy the 3rd Gen model currently available. It's a fantastic device that will serve you well for years to come. Please stop waiting.
 
Apple doing the bare minimum. Years ago there were a few events throughout the year for new products, now there’s two, and sometimes just one, depending on WWDC.
 
MacRumors said:


While it was rumored that Apple planned to release new versions of the HomePod mini, Apple TV, and AirTag this year, it is no longer clear if that will still happen.

homepod-mini-thumb-feature.jpg

Back in January, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said Apple planned to release new HomePod mini and Apple TV models "toward the end of the year," while he at one point expected a new AirTag to launch "around the middle of 2025." Yet, nothing so far.

There are reasons to believe that at least one of the products could be updated imminently, but there are also signs that Apple might hold off until next year.

For starters, HomePod mini inventory is running low at many of Apple's retail stores, and the speaker is completely out of stock at select resellers. That would typically be a sign that a hardware refresh is imminent, but it is already mid-November, so it is getting late in the year. Apple just updated its online store for the holiday season, and it even highlights the existing five-year-old HomePod mini as a gift idea.

"We are excited to be sharing our most extraordinary lineup of products as we head into the holiday season," said Apple CEO Tim Cook, in a press release at the end of October. Did he mean no more new products this year? Maybe. Maybe not.

Apple rarely launches new products in the second half of November or December, but it has happened a few times. For example, the original 16-inch MacBook Pro was announced in November 2019, and the AirPods Max were unveiled in December 2020. So, anything is possible. Just keep your expectations low.

All in all, the reality is that nobody seems to know if the HomePod mini, Apple TV, and AirTag will be updated this year anymore — at least until the next rumor surfaces.

If the HomePod mini and Apple TV do not end up being updated until 2026, it could be the result of Apple delaying its more personalized version of Siri until next year, as Gurman expects both devices to support the revamped assistant. The improved Siri is currently expected to launch as part of iOS 26.4 in March or April. It is possible that Apple would want to show off the new-and-improved Siri at the same time as the first new devices that will run it, including the company's long-rumored smart home hub.

The current HomePod mini was unveiled in October 2020, while the latest-generation Apple TV 4K was released in October 2022.

It is harder to explain why the AirTag has not been updated yet. Apple unveiled the current version of the accessory in April 2021.

Below, we have recapped rumored features for each product:
What do you think? Will any of these products be updated this year, or is Apple done for now?

Article Link: New HomePod Mini, Apple TV, and AirTag Were Expected This Year — Where Are They?
Click to expand...
The FTC is impacted by the government shut down.

Just like Leica had to cancel the launch of the new M variant Apple may have been impacted as well not getting a release.
 
  • Like
Reactions: max2
Neil J. Squillante said:
It doesn't make sense to launch a new HomePod mini without the new Siri. It does make sense to launch the A18 Pro MacBook before Christmas. The AirTags also make sense for Christmas.

As for the Apple TV, what future does it have unless it becomes a serious game console? All new TVs contain the Apple TV network and (I think) you can install the Apple TV app for rentals, etc. Older TVs are slowly being replaced. It was always a niche product that has only become more niche.

A reminder — Apple launched the AirPods Max on December 8, 2020. That was an odd launch date. Apple probably missed an earlier target date because of Covid so I wouldn't expect anything in December. It's November or 2026.
Click to expand...
doesn't exactly make sense to launch ATV before the new Siri either.

ATV niche? Sure relatively speaking. But I think similar demand still is there for a high end apple eco system compatible streaming UI. That's what the ATV is.

I have nice newer LG OLED with a good enough UI on it but still have a new ATV hooked up. I can easily connect airpods to the ATV. ATV syncs with Homepods easy for sound. And for hands free playback controls. ATV doesn't have ads. ATV works well with Apple Music and has features like karaokee lyrics. There's Facetime if one uses that. I can't say I do. And it's the fastest box around with a nice simple compact remote. Also a feature like making all the tvs in your house have the same apps displayed and using the iphone natively as a remote. IT's a lot of little things like that that make ATV enjoyable and worth buying compared to using the native TV UI.

And it's just easier to go into settings for me than on my LG UI which is rather convoluted. Plus was more app compatibility on ATV although LG finally got the ESPN app not terribly long ago.
 
  • Like
Reactions: V.K. and Neil J. Squillante
MacRumors said:
"We are excited to be sharing our most extraordinary lineup of products as we head into the holiday season," said Apple CEO Tim Cook, in a press release at the end of October. Did he mean no more new products this year? Maybe. Maybe not.
Click to expand...
Sadly yes. No more new product for this year.

Hearing from industrial rumor mill, most of the new products released going forward, will be tied to Apple Intelligence and they are holding off on it till next year. Maybe March.

New Apple TV, HomePod will be tied to Apple Intelligence so it makes sense for Apple to delay it till new Siri arrives.
 
  • Like
Reactions: vitordill
BMox81 said:
Haha, the hopium here is unreal. Are we actually extending this until Black Friday now?

Seriously people, if you are in the market to buy an Apple TV, please go and buy the 3rd Gen model currently available. It's a fantastic device that will serve you well for years to come. Please stop waiting.
Click to expand...
It’s not “hopium”, I’m not even interested in buying any of these rumored products. I’m just looking at the inventory on Apple’s website, and I think it’s safe to say that the HomePod Mini isn’t in short supply due to hot demand.
 
dannyyankou said:
If these products are announced next week, this post will look pretty silly.
Click to expand...
That’s not the way this site thinks. Every day is a new day, and amnesia kicks in very effectively.

If tomorrow, or Friday or next week, these products are announced, it’ll be as of MR never published this article, even when it still remains on the forum.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
  • Haha
Reactions: Boeingfan, ralph_sws, chad.petree and 2 others
Neil J. Squillante said:
As for the Apple TV, what future does it have unless it becomes a serious game console? All new TVs contain the Apple TV network and (I think) you can install the Apple TV app for rentals, etc. Older TVs are slowly being replaced. It was always a niche product that has only become more niche.
Click to expand...
Built-in apps just suck, and the OS the TV runs only get updates for a couple of years. If the Apple TV goes away, I’d probably use my PS5 or Xbox for TV apps.
 
How about a new iMac I need one but I do not want to buy the current one when it is near to be obsolete. Come on Apple get your act together.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back