Today, Apple announced the first HomePod mini refresh since the smart speaker was first released in 2020. The big upgrade here is support for Siri AI.
The new HomePod mini 2 will look and feel pretty much exactly like its predecessor, although it’s now available in pink, green, and blue, too. It’s mostly the insides that have been upgraded, including the use of Apple’s S10 chip.
The HomePod mini 2 also offers new sound features, including the ability to pair with up to four speakers at a time for surround sound when paired with the Apple TV 4K (4th generation). Apple says that the HomePod mini 2 and Apple’s new Apple TV 4K can “intelligently recognize each speaker’s position in the room, so audio timing and levels are automatically calibrated to the space.”
While the look is mostly the same, Apple has updated the lights on the HomePod mini 2 to include what it calls “Sound Glow.” The top of the HomePod mini 2 now “pulses in sync with the music” and can change in real time with the bass and treble. A song’s album artwork also triggers a color-matched experience, which is fun.
Of course, the biggest selling feature here is support for Apple’s Siri AI and Apple Intelligence features, which work when connected to a supported iPhone. You’ll be able to use your HomePod mini to connect to iOS apps like Messages and Calendar, meaning you could query your HomePod mini 2 to find a song a friend sent you in a text or set a reminder tied to a calendar event or location. Siri AI should also make multistep commands easier, meaning you can do more in one go, like turning your lights off and closing your blinds.
Unfortunately, while Apple says the HomePod 2 supports Siri AI, those features won’t be available at launch. Siri AI is still in beta, so when those features will arrive is TBD—Apple says it will be made available in “future software updates.”
The new HomePod mini is available for pre-order now for $149, with shipments expected to begin Oct. 30.
