New HomePod Mini Finally Expected This Year Following 2020 Launch

[MacRumors]

It might be hard to believe, but the HomePod mini launched alongside the iPhone 12 series all the way back in November 2020. Fortunately, after more than a four-year wait, a new model is finally expected to launch later this year.

Earlier this month, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said Apple is aiming to launch the new HomePod mini "toward the end of the year." According to his reporting, the speaker will be equipped with Apple's own combined Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip, with Wi-Fi 6E support. The current HomePod mini supports Wi-Fi 4, so Wi-Fi 6E would be an upgrade, enabling faster and more reliable Wi-Fi connectivity for Siri, music playback, and more.

While there are no other firm rumors yet, likely upgrades for the next HomePod mini include a newer "S" chip, improved sound quality, new color options, and a newer Ultra Wideband chip for a lower-latency Handoff experience. The current HomePod mini is equipped with the S5 chip, which debuted in 2019's Apple Watch Series 5.

In addition to a new HomePod mini, Apple reportedly plans to release an all-new smart home hub at some point this year. The hub is expected to feature around a 6-inch to 7-inch display that can be mounted on a wall, or attached to a tabletop base with a speaker, so the device could be similar to the HomePod mini in some ways.

The home hub is expected to support Apple Intelligence, but the next HomePod mini is not. Read our HomePod mini roundup for more details.

Article Link: New HomePod Mini Finally Expected This Year Following 2020 Launch

 

[thefrost]

The home hub is expected to support Apple Intelligence, but the next HomePod mini is not.

Doesn't matter since Siri is still trash anyways.

 

[orangeadrenaline]

Seems bizarre it isn't rechargeable to allow it to be used without a power cable.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

Sonos Move if we want portable with battery. And that's not the only one.

 

[Radeon85]

About time, the best thing about the S9 and newer is the ability to process basic Siri requests on the device, this on the Ultra 2 was a massive upgrade as it made requests significantly faster and more responsive, even with little to no network connectivity.

Should make doing basic requests like turning lights on and off way more responsive.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

The big question: will gen 2 stereo pair with gen 1? We have one precedent: original HP vs. HP gen 2 and they did not pair. Rationale offered was change of internal tech, etc and this one is rumored to have changes of internal tech, etc.

 

[Remy149]

Doesn't matter since Siri is still trash anyways.

For smart home functionality I find HomeKit and Siri to be the best with voice commands.

 

[coold78]

Really hoping this update allows us to expand the HomePod network beyond a stereo pair.

 

[ltd73]

would be nice if they were dolby atmos capable

 

[Warputin]

Every time I think about buying a few, I’m like oh yeah it’s not wireless…

 

[orangeadrenaline]

Sonos Move if we want portable with battery. And there's is not the only one.

Or Sonos Roam

 

[orangeadrenaline]

Every time I think about buying a few, I’m like oh yeah it’s not wireless…

Right! Make the HomePod the wired one and HomePod mini the option to take with you. I can't imagine the number of returns for this silly decision. People expect small speakers to be portable.

 

[DocMultimedia]

I've been patiently waiting for a year and a half to buy one. Guess I'll be waiting another 10 months.

 

[Naraxus]

Wired, not wired not a big deal either way for me. All I care about is the sound quality.

I can imagine people here though. If it's wired, we get what we have here today. If it's wireless, endless complaints about the battery in it 🤷‍♂️

 

[orangeadrenaline]

Wired, not wired not a big deal either way for me. All I care about is the sound quality.

I can imagine people here though. If it's wired, we get what we have here today. If it's wireless, endless complaints about the battery in it 🤷‍♂️

Sonos has portable speakers with AirPlay and bluetooth with 10 hours of battery life. I'm sure Apple could do just as well. What's deceiving is to look at the HomePod mini webpage. Dozens of images and NONE of the cable.

 

[siddavis]

Right! Make the HomePod the wired one and HomePod mini the option to take with you. I can't imagine the number of returns for this silly decision. People expect small speakers to be portable.

Totally. Amazon probably haven’t moved any of those Echo Dot thingies. 😆

 

[orangeadrenaline]

Totally. Amazon probably haven’t moved any of those Echo Dot thingies. 😆

Anybody that considers an Echo Dot a speaker....has bigger problems...but at least Amazon shows it with a cable attached and at less than half the price of a HomePod mini.

 

[furd]

I dunno. I bought a couple and, for a while, they were truly "plug and play" -- fdo the setup once and I was done.

But now, they have become practically unusable; requiring endless resets and STILL not being something I can connect to. The design decision to make everything "automagic" means that I can't troubleshoot the problem and I have come to hate them -- seriously considering taking a baseball bat to them, just to see how far I could pound one (given their softball size).

I've tried to be calm, but I would never be able to recommend these to anyone

 

[Apple Knowledge Navigator]

Don’t get too excited - it’ll probably just be new colours and a chip bump.

“Strongest HomePod” line-up we’ve ever had”

 

[JosephAW]

Bluetooth and FM tuner support should’ve been in the first revision.
Removable power cable and battery operated would’ve been ideal.
Apple needs to take it to a whole new level and integrate all voice assistance software in this device in order to bring in the Amazon and Google people. 🔊

 

[Naraxus]

Sonos has portable speakers with AirPlay and bluetooth with 10 hours of battery life. I'm sure Apple could do just as well. What's deceiving is to look at the HomePod mini webpage. Dozens of images and NONE of the cable.

Hardly deceiving. What are you buying? The HomePod so they show, wait for it, the HomePod.

Interesting you ignore this: https://www.apple.com/homepod-mini/specs/

Electrical and Environmental Requirements: Line voltage: 100V to 240V AC for 20W power adapter11

 

[orangeadrenaline]

Hardly deceiving. What are you buying? The HomePod so they show, wait for it, the HomePod.

Interesting you ignore this: https://www.apple.com/homepod-mini/specs/

Electrical and Environmental Requirements: Line voltage: 100V to 240V AC for 20W power adapter11

That is on the tech spec page and not the overview page. Most Apple consumer-level devices have power adapters and batteries.

 

[siddavis]

Anybody that considers an Echo Dot a speaker....has bigger problems...but at least Amazon shows it with a cable attached and at less than half the price of a HomePod mini.

Right, nobody used the Dot as a speaker. It just happens to be a… small speaker… so as stated, everyone expects those to be portable. The Sonos options everyone is throwing around here are almost twice as much as the mini.

 

[orangeadrenaline]

Right, nobody used the Dot as a speaker. It just happens to be a… small speaker… so as stated, everyone expects those to be portable. The Sonos options everyone is throwing around here are almost twice as much as the mini.

Okay, $99 wired and $149 wireless then.

 

[awdodson24]

On the whole wired/wireless debate: The current Homepod Mini, as it's designed today, is not a good wireless (on-the-go) product. It's designed for the indoors. Take it outside and it's going to get wrecked by dirt, etc. Apple would need to design a brand new product if they want to go that route.