Apple Unveils Its First HomePod mini in Six Years

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 the insides that have been upgraded, including the use of Apple’s S10 chip. © Apple 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.” 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. The new HomePod mini is available for pre-order now for $149, with shipments expected to begin Oct. 30.