For the HomePod 2 they actually reduced the number of speakers compared to version 1. So to will be interesting to see what they do.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
What to Expect From the HomePod Mini 2 Rumored to Launch Next Year
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
I use a pair of the original HomePods as tv speakers for my bedroom tv. Very happy with the experience. On my wish list, and submitted to Apple as a suggestion, is to make the next version of the mini be USB-C powered so I could use a pair traveling in my RV or just camping with a USB power source.
Edit: on second thought not a huge deal as I can just use my AirPods to do the same.
Edit: on second thought not a huge deal as I can just use my AirPods to do the same.
I dont care about siri.
I like airplaying my homepods controlled from any idevice simultaneously,
I like airplaying my homepods controlled from any idevice simultaneously,
Apple's strategy with audio (excluding AirPods) has been all over the place since the very beginning, going back all the way to the iPod Hi-Fi
AirPods is the exact reason it’s weird, they’re easily the most popular headphones in the world with some awesome spacial audio tech, it’d be awesome in some actual high def speakers
This is a no-brainier and must be easier to implement than Apple Intelligence, making things thinner or adding features nobody asked for. This isn’t dependent on Siri or AI at all, so surely they just need to work on the software just to connect and configure the sound setup. I’m sure many people would then buy HomePod minis just for this, yet Apple is determined to leave it languishing and concentrate the efforts of those 10 developers who work on everything on things nobody wants
I expect I won’t be buying them, as my Echo-powered Bose Soundwave 2 setup costs less and puts them to shame in terms of sound quality and Alexa reliability and functionality.
I have to deal with that idiot child Siri on my phone as it is, no way I’m inviting her into my den.
I have to deal with that idiot child Siri on my phone as it is, no way I’m inviting her into my den.
This has been Apple's strategy for everything last 5 years it seems. I've never seen Apple flounder with no clear direction. People have been screaming for iPadOS to actually take a step into the future but Apple won't address it. Apple Intelligence is an absolute mess, and have yet to address the one thing people have asked for: a better SIRI. The car project always seemed like it was out of left field and ultimately blew through $10B with nothing to show for it. VisionPro felt like a half-baked idea that fell flat. And the only thing left in the rumor pipelines are folding devices, home cameras and house robots. Oh and an overpriced HomePod with a screen on it that still won't do home theater audio.
They better pay Jonny Srouji whatever he wants bc Apple Silicon is Apple's saving grace right now.
I have two HomePod minis that I use exclusively for Siri - if I want music, I ask the Sonos system. The HomePod minis get asked many times a day to turn lights on/off (via scenes, "Hey Siri, set ambience"), to set timers, and to add reminders - it's extraordinarily convenient to be able to say "Hey Siri, remind me (tonight / tomorrow / in an hour) to do (XYZ)" in the midst of whatever else, without having to pick up and unlock my phone - it helps me to avoid losing track of ideas or things I need to do.
Siri is not great, but she's useful. She gets what I say right about 90% of the time (in part because I've learned how to phrase things to increase the likelihood of things working). I wish that were 100%, but I'll take 90% for now.
I don't think either of these products is the right vehicle for it. HomePod is a great AirPlay speaker. Apple TV is a great set-top box. For home automation, an iPhone or iPad still seems more natural.
ummm….then what’s going to run the automations? That’s the whole point to a home hub
wouldnt it be great if Apple used the upgrade to allow you to create a proper 5.2 or 7.2 setup?
A couple of Homepods to do main duty.
A mini for Centre.
A couple minis for Rears.
And maybe a few more for height.
A nice setup tool to listen and calibrate it all.
Could shake Sonos up a bit...
Surely it's just lack of will stopping Apple doing this. The tech and smarts exist...
A couple of Homepods to do main duty.
A mini for Centre.
A couple minis for Rears.
And maybe a few more for height.
A nice setup tool to listen and calibrate it all.
Could shake Sonos up a bit...
Surely it's just lack of will stopping Apple doing this. The tech and smarts exist...
I've waited so long for this, but have now given up on Apple and gone to Sonos and sold my HomePods. Apple doesn't seem to listen to what people want, they are now putting out things people don't want such as Apple intelligence and Vision Pro.
Just turn Siri off, everywhere- and all will be great.
So do I, and no complains. Siri is non-existing here, and all Apple stuff is just as good as it can be.
Eh, for home automation, specifically, the Apple TV or HomePod is ideal, because they're always on and always home. The iPhone is generally only home when you're home. The iPad might stay home sometimes, but likely frequently leaves the house. Both of them also have batteries to worry about.
Well the market wants AI, it's a buzz word, and AVP is niche and first gen that holds a lot of tech and dev work that will flow on to many of the things we use. It will morph and change but it's an important tool no less.
Maybe it's surprising that someone hasnt worked out a way to do what we want.
A non Apple solution.
It's just about throwing audio to various speakers. Others do it.
Keeping them in sync would be the tricky part.
So it would be better if Apple did the software and made it part of the OS.
But it is something people seem to like the idea of Apple doing and would achieve hardware sales.
It might be the missing part that makes HomePods worth buying.
A mini couldn't handle being a center channel - it's more important, and has a bigger job to do, than either the left or right front speakers.
If anything, you'd want a dedicated "Home Center" speaker under the TV, that was a HomePod and a center channel, possibly combined with an Apple TV and a camera (though I personally don't think combining them is a good idea, many seem to want an all-in-one solution), and then HomePods for the left and right, and HomePods or HomePod minis for the surround speakers.
Personally, I'd like to see them just buy Sonos, and combine the two.
Why are all of these custom apple made chips wifi 6E and not wifi 7? I try not the believe the planned obsolescence stuff but... this is not skating to where the hockey puck is going...
More than four years have passed since Apple released the HomePod mini in November 2020, and the wait for a new model might finally soon be over.
Below, we recap rumors about the next-generation HomePod mini.
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman last week reported that a new HomePod mini will be released next year. He said the speaker will be equipped with Apple's own combined Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip, which supports Wi-Fi 6E. It is unclear if the chip's Wi-Fi 6E support will be enabled for the new HomePod mini, but if it is, that would allow for faster wireless connectivity compared to the current model's Wi-Fi 4 support.
While there are no other rumors yet, likely upgrades for the next HomePod mini include a newer "S" chip, improved sound quality, a second-generation Ultra Wideband chip for a lower-latency Handoff experience, and new color options. 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 as soon as March next year. The hub is expected to feature around a 6-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.
It is unclear if the next HomePod mini will have Siri improvements, as unlike the home hub, the speaker is not expected to get Apple Intelligence.
Check out our HomePod mini roundup for more details.
Article Link: What to Expect From the HomePod Mini 2 Rumored to Launch Next Year
Also, what really matters, when will the HomePod (and apple TV) have 8gb ram to have local new siri / apple intelligence? Or can they do it from the cloud? If they can, why not have new siri on older phones?
The curtain is very thin these days.
In the box that says "Comments*" in it in light grey.