Apple Unveils $149 Homepod Mini 2, With Siri AI Coming Later

The updated speaker is available to preorder ahead of an October 30 release, but its promised Siri AI features will require a future software update.

Apple has announced the HomePod Mini 2, a $149 update to its small smart speaker. Preorders opened October 13, and the device is due October 30. It adds an S10 chip, new ways to use the speaker with a Mac and Apple TV, and lights that respond to music. Its promised Siri AI features will not be available at launch.

Table of Contents
  1. A new chip, but a wait for Siri AI
  2. More ways to connect speakers
  3. Price and availability
  4. Sources

A new chip, but a wait for Siri AI

The S10 chip, previously used in the Apple Watch Series 10, is the main internal change. Apple plans to enable Siri AI on the Mini 2 through a later software update, but it has not given a release date. According to TechCrunch, Apple says the updated assistant will support conversations that continue across multiple requests. The Verge reports that Siri AI will not come to the original HomePod Mini.

The Verge says the future update will support English in the US and seven other countries it named, but its list does not include Israel. The outlet also reports that enabling the upgrade will require an Apple Intelligence-capable iPhone, such as an iPhone 15 Pro or newer. Access to personal information, including calendars and messages, will depend on that phone and voice recognition, according to The Verge.

More ways to connect speakers

The Mini 2 can serve as a Mac’s default speaker, while as many as four can connect to the new Apple TV 4K for surround sound. Engadget reports that a TV setup can also combine two Mini 2 speakers with two second-generation full-size HomePods. For Mac use, however, the reports differ: Engadget says a persistent connection between two Minis and a Mac works with any Mac, while The Verge says the feature requires a model supporting Wi-Fi 6E or later.

A feature called Sound Glow uses the LEDs on top of the speaker to display colors drawn from album artwork. The lights can also animate with ambient soundscapes, including rain and ocean sounds. TechCrunch says the S10 chip helps optimize dynamic range, loudness and acoustic performance; The Verge reports that Apple describes the speaker’s sound as unchanged from the original Mini. The new model comes in pink, green, blue, white and midnight, according to TechCrunch and Engadget.

Price and availability

At $149, the Mini 2 costs more than the first HomePod Mini, which Engadget and TechCrunch say launched in 2020 for $99. The outlets give different comparisons for the price increase: TechCrunch calls it a $50 rise over the original launch price, while The Verge says it is $20 more than the predecessor being discontinued. Buyers can preorder the new model now, but will have to wait beyond its October 30 release to try Siri AI.

Sources

This story was compiled by AI from the reports below. Read the originals for the full details.