Apple is preparing to release the second-generation HomePod mini 2 smart speaker in stores and via customer shipping, following an advance ordering period that lasted for more than a week. The new device comes with a package of technical updates and an improved internal architecture compared to the original version.
Key Technical Updates in the Second Generation
The HomePod mini 2 is powered by the S10 processor taken from the Apple Watch Series 10, an upgrade from the older S5 processor used in the first model. Apple indicates that the S10 chip enables advanced digital audio processing capabilities, alongside support for fast wireless connectivity via Wi-Fi 6E technology compared to the previous Wi-Fi 4 standard.
In terms of design and acoustics, the new device features three microphones dedicated to Siri, down from four microphones in the previous model. It also includes the Sound Glow interactive lighting feature, which allows the upper part of the speaker to glow and pulse in synchronization with the playing music, a feature that has been expanded to older models via a software update.
Spatial Audio Features and Ecosystem Integration
The new generation allows linking up to four HomePod mini 2 speakers or the larger HomePod 2 models with the fourth-generation Apple TV 4K to configure front and rear spatial audio setups. Apple also allows combining and mixing different models as long as the front and rear pairs match, while providing the room-filling audio feature for use at parties.
Additionally, users can now set the HomePod mini 2 as the default audio output on Mac computers compatible with Wi-Fi 6E or later, provided that the latest software version is installed on the speakers via the Apple Home app.
Absence of Siri AI Feature at Launch
Despite highlighting artificial intelligence capabilities as one of the device's most prominent upgrades, Apple confirmed that the Siri AI feature based on Apple Intelligence technologies will not be available upon the official launch of the device, but will arrive via a future software update whose release date has not yet been specified.
Pricing, Colors, and Availability
The HomePod mini 2 smart speaker is available in entirely new color options including green and pink, alongside the traditional colors of blue, Midnight, and white. In the US market, the device is priced at $149, marking an increase compared to the price of the original model which started at $99 before Apple later raised it to $129.