New HomePod Mini Coming Soon With These Features

[MacRumors]

Apple is expected to announce a new HomePod mini imminently, headlining with new chips. Here are all of the new features we're expecting.

The second-generation HomePod mini is highly likely to contain a more up-to-date chip for more advanced computational audio and improved responsiveness. The current HomePod mini is equipped with the Apple Watch Series 5's S5 chip from 2019. Apple is likely to opt for the S9 chip, which was a considerable leap forward in terms of performance, or one of its derivatives such as the S10, which is a more compact iteration of the S9.

The S5 chip in the HomePod mini is derived from Apple's A12 Bionic architecture but runs at lower clock speeds and is tuned for always-on, low-power operation, making it well-suited for tasks like Siri processing and real-time audio tuning. In contrast, the S9 and S10 chips are based on the A13 chip, offering higher CPU and GPU performance, a more advanced Neural Engine, and greater efficiency per watt.

The new HomePod mini will be equipped with the N1 Apple-designed Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. The chip supports Wi-Fi 6E, which is much faster and has lower latency compared to the current HomePod mini's Wi-Fi 4 connectivity. Wi-Fi 6E extends the capabilities of Wi-Fi 6 to the 6 GHz band, enabling faster wireless speeds and reduced signal interference with a compatible router.

Apple could also bring its second-generation Ultra Wideband chip to the HomePod mini for a more reliable and lower-latency Handoff experience. The chip debuted in 2023's iPhone 15 lineup. If present, the chip should allow far more precise spatial awareness than the current model, allowing it to detect the exact position and orientation of nearby devices within a few centimeters.

New color options are also highly likely, but specific finishes are not yet known other than red, which was reportedly in testing. The current HomePod mini comes in Blue, Yellow, Midnight, Orange, and White.

Gurman says that, just like the next-generation Apple TV, the new HomePod mini "will be built with Apple's new smart home ecosystem in mind." It is unclear if the next HomePod mini will have Siri improvements. Unlike Apple's long-rumored smart home hub product, the new HomePod mini is not expected to get Apple Intelligence support.

Recently, Apple retailer B&H started listing all HomePod mini models as discontinued. Some other retailers are also listing the HomePod mini as out of stock or on backorder, which suggests that a refresh is set to take place soon. Gurman believes that a new HomePod mini "shouldn't be far off" amid tightening inventory and planned Apple Store refreshes.

Article Link: New HomePod Mini Coming Soon With These Features

 

[Kylo83]

All we get now days is new chip upgrades and nothing to exciting. Until Siri becomes like google gemini I won’t buy another Siri product

 

[WilliApple]

Now HEAR ME OUT! What if they gave it Apple Intelligence when you pair it with the next gen Apple TV that’s supposed to get A17 Pro I believe…

 

[DocMultimedia]

I'll be buying when it's announced. Need one for my kitchen and one for my bedroom.

 

[Unami]

Also, you'll probably need to replace all your old homepod minis with this new one when you want to access the new siri (that runs in the cloud).

 

[BMox81]

Hahahaha, unreal levels of trolling with this article. Well done MacRumors.

 

[Hasbro1]

All we get now days is new chip upgrades and nothing to exciting. Until Siri becomes like google gemini I won’t buy another Siri product

yeah like God forbid they figured out how to do 5.1 system support. I use two of the minis and two of the larger HomePods and use them in stereo in two different rooms for audio and they are fantastic. It's certainly not going to compare to having five speakers, but the audio is fantastic. What an incredible software update that would be. I remember when they first came out I returned them because they couldn't work in stereo. Now they can just add the other channels it couldn't be easier

 

[diego.caraballo]

The main feature will be the absolute impossibility of pairing it with an older generation device...

 

[drrich2]

Gurman says that, just like the next-generation Apple TV, the new HomePod mini "will be built with Apple's new smart home ecosystem in mind." It is unclear if the next HomePod mini will have Siri improvements. Unlike Apple's long-rumored smart home hub product, the new HomePod mini is not expected to get Apple Intelligence support.

Late 2025, at a point I imagine many of the enthusiasts for 'smart homes' have long since been getting into systems on offer, and with Apple what do we see mentioned here? Apple's 'new smart home ecosystem' (which is?), there's a long-rumored (but still vaporware?) 'smart home hub product,' and this thing anticipated to come out imminently isn't expected to support Apple Intelligence (granted, it might surprise us).

Just how late to the party in this category is Apple going to be?

I get that Apple didn't invent the cell phone, they invented the iPhone, and they didn't invent the portable digital music player, they invented the iPod. Yes, they have a history of entering a pre-exiting market with a compellingly intuitive, powerful and charming new product and establishing a major platform.

But the competition here will not be old school flip phones and Sony Walkmans. And competitors likely won't try to rope people into a platform-specific ecosystem as much as Apple historically has. Apple TV hasn't taken the world by storm.

I'm curious to see what Apple manages to pull off.

 

[bartszyszka]

What would be the point of coming out with a new HomePod with new chips but no Apple Intelligence (if by Apple Intelligence we just mean an upgraded Siri that can answer questions using ChatGPT)?

 

[MrRom92]

The Apple product that probably most needs an update. A frustrating experience from day 1 that we’ve learned to live with. Somehow I’m assuming Siri won’t improve AT ALL. Faster chip in the same useless box that can ultimately only turn the lights on and off in a room and tell you the weather, occasionally

 

[rymc02]

yeah like God forbid they figured out how to do 5.1 system support. I use two of the minis and two of the larger HomePods and use them in stereo in two different rooms for audio and they are fantastic. It's certainly not going to compare to having five speakers, but the audio is fantastic. What an incredible software update that would be. I remember when they first came out I returned them because they couldn't work in stereo. Now they can just add the other channels it couldn't be easier

This! It is astounding to me that a company with a movie studio and specialized "spacial audio" doesn't have their own speakers create 5.1 or 4.1 surround sound. It's like Tim doesn't like selling more HomePods or something.

 

[Return Zero]

I would buy a pair immediately if they let me use as rear surrounds from an Apple TV. Heck they should be able to update the old ones to do that with just software.

 

[BorisDG]

I'd say it's getting some binned A17 Pro. I cannot see how S9/10/11 will be an upgrade we need compared to S5, if they are going to keep this for future years.

 

[BMox81]

All year long MacRumors have been spamming us with a new Apple TV 4K and HomePod Mini…

It’s an incredible feat.

 

[kfury77]

Would be nice if the HomePod Mini could be plugged in to a Mac (USB-C) for wired audio

 

[TVreporter]

The main feature will be the absolute impossibility of pairing it with an older generation device...

First thing I considered too. I'd be shocked if they make them compatible. Got to find some way to get the purchases up!

 

[NativeMac]

Me during announcement weeks….”is the store up?” Yep, then it’s not today
🤣

 

[nortonandreev]

My HomePod Mini is perhaps one of the best purchases I have ever made. It’s cheap, I’d say very good value for the money. I’ve been using it daily for a few years now. And I feel zero need to update yet - I’m fine with the audio quality and I feel that most of the “advanced” features, that would benefit the most from a new chip, are quite gimmicky. My only complaint is that switching between devices is slow - but I feel it’s more of a software problem that Apple won’t be able to fully solve even with a new chip.

 

[Gherkin]

With the news article about Siri being powered Gemini soon, I wonder what will happen with these speakers? Would be weird to have a new speaker come out now and Siri powered Gemini next year and these speakers not being able to tap into that.

 

[Etc_]

Me during announcement weeks….”is the store up?” Yep, then it’s not today
🤣

Just check the Apple Newsroom at the usual release times, you’ll get the news there faster than anywhere else.

 

[thejadedmonkey]

According to Wikipedia, the S10 is based off of the A16 chip in the iPhone 15, not the A13 chip.

 

[Icehawk]

Just check the Apple Newsroom at the usual release times, you’ll get the news there faster than anywhere else.

I just did taht, and I saw this. Thanks for the tip as I laugh that we now have an iPocket. xD

 

[Pierre_Ranger]

Is this like the *new* Apple TV that you're saying will soon come out... for 1 year?! lol

 

[Jolson247]

Will it still say “you don’t have any alarms” when I try to ask Siri to turn on/off or change an alarm I have on my iPhone that’s also within earshot of one of my 2 Home Minis?

Or when I ask it to turn off the lamps in my bedroom (which are the only lamps that are currently turned on in my apartment) and it asks “which room? bedroom, living room, etc…”)

It seems that the only thing they’re useful for is very deliberate Home commands.