In just a couple days, Apple should be unveiling its long-awaited new lineup of new Home products. That includes an updated HomePod mini, Apple TV 4K, the brand-new smart home hub called ‘HomeView’, as well as a new lineup of smart home accessories, in collaboration with LG. Here’s what to expect with the HomePod mini 2.
According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the new HomePod mini should equip the S10 chip, up from the current S5 chip. This isn’t quite the latest silicon, but it’s still a massive step-change from the outgoing model.
With the S10 chip, the HomePod mini will be able to offer Siri AI features – a first for any of Apple’s Home products. It’ll also “extend” your HomeView throughout your house, with voice control and music playback all being able to sync up to your HomeView. Of course, the updated Apple TV and HomeView will also support Siri AI.
The new HomePod mini will come in a fresh array of colors, including pink, green, and blue – on top of the traditional midnight and white.
Outside of the S10 chip, the HomePod mini 2 is expected to offer Apple’s N1 networking chip to serve as a Thread and Matter radio, as well as offering Wi-Fi 7 support. Currently, the HomePod mini only offers Wi-Fi 4.
While pricing isn’t necessarily clear, it’s worth noting that HomePod mini increased in price from $99 to $129 back in June with Apple’s wave of memory-related price hikes. I personally expect pricing to stay the same, as Apple likely anticipated the upcoming hardware when it set them. Only time will tell, though.
As for release date, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports that the second-generation HomePod mini should arrive in stores on October 30th, alongside the new Apple TV 4K. The HomeView, on the other hand, is expected to slip into mid-November. You can read more about the HomeView here.
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Michael is a 9to5Mac Reporter, leading all of our Apple news coverage on weekends and reviewing the newest Apple products and accessories. He got started in the world of Apple news during the pandemic, and it became a growing hobby. He’s also an indie iOS developer, and started the weekly Indie App Spotlight series, which has covered hundreds of blooming new apps since it launched. In his free time, he enjoys shooting street photography around New York City on his Sony A7RV.
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Despite a new version reportedly being around a corner, I still personally believe AirPods Pro 2 are a great deal. They're already equipped with USB-C, and continually gain new software features. With them consistently going on sale, it's a great purchase to make. Features like Adaptive Audio are incredible.
