Apple first launched the HomePod mini in 2020 alongside the iPhone 12, and since then, it has mostly stayed the same. In 2021, Apple introduced new color options, including blue, orange, and yellow, and replaced Space Gray with Midnight this year, featuring 100% recycled mesh fabric. Despite these changes, the HomePod mini has remained largely unchanged.
But after nearly five years, Apple is finally set to update the HomePod mini with a few exciting enhancements.
New Networking Chip
One of the most talked-about upgrades for the upcoming HomePod mini is the introduction of Apple’s own in-house networking chip, codenamed ‘Proxima.’ This chip will bring Wi-Fi 6E to the HomePod mini, making it one of the first products to feature it. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the chip also has the potential to act as a wireless access point, which could transform the HomePod mini into more than just a smart speaker.
While it’s unclear if Apple will take advantage of this, it could enable the HomePod mini to become part of a Wi-Fi mesh network, similar to the old AirPort Express.
Apple Intelligence
Unfortunately, despite the HomePod being such a great platform for Apple Intelligence features, particularly with Siri, neither the HomePod nor the HomePod mini currently supports them. However, rumors suggest that Apple’s upcoming smart home display, sometimes called the ‘HomePad,’ will include these features.
For Apple Intelligence to make its way into the HomePod mini, Apple would likely need to introduce an A17 Pro or A18 chip, which could significantly raise the price. Right now, Apple uses Apple Watch chipsets in the HomePod, with the mini featuring the S5 chip from the Apple Watch Series 5 and first-gen Apple Watch SE.
At the very least, Apple could integrate features like ChatGPT or rely on Private Cloud Compute for Siri requests, which wouldn’t require heavy on-board processing but would come with server costs. It’s unclear whether Apple would absorb this cost to make Siri more useful or possibly tie it to a higher-tier iCloud+ subscription. We’ll have to wait and see.
Release Date
According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the HomePod mini 2 is expected to debut later this year. Along with that, Apple is planning updates for some of its other products. A new AirTag with improved range, codenamed B589, is already getting ready for production. Additionally, new models of the HomePod mini and Apple TV set-top box are on the way, with both designed to work seamlessly within Apple’s updated smart home ecosystem.
