Apple’s HomePod mini will likely be three years outdated in October, elevating questions round what the corporate has in retailer for its low-cost sensible speaker sooner or later. Here is all the things we all know up to now primarily based on rumors and Apple’s different releases.
The HomePod mini was introduced in October 2020 at Apple’s iPhone 12 occasion. Lower than half a yr later, Apple discontinued the unique HomePod, leaving the HomePod mini as the corporate’s solely sensible speaker till earlier this yr when Apple relaunched the full-size HomePod kind issue.
The newly reintroduced HomePod affords a lot of options that had been beforehand unique to the HomePod mini, together with an Apple Watch S-series chip, a U1 extremely wideband chip, Thread assist, a temperature and humidity sensor, and a bigger backlit contact floor that illuminates from edge to edge.
Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman was first to spotlight Apple’s work on a second-generation HomePod mini in August 2022. Gurman has since expressed skepticism about what a brand new HomePod mini may supply since “the newest HomePod does not embody any main new features that are not already within the $99 mini.”
In February, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo stated that Apple will start mass shipments of the second-generation HomePod mini within the second half of 2024.
A second-generation HomePod mini may conceivably introduce a lower-latency Handoff expertise, improved sound and microphones, and the S7, S8, S9, or S10 chip. Many Siri requests are processed domestically, which means that responsiveness may benefit from an improved chip. A brand new HomePod mini may additionally see specification upgrades, resembling Wi-Fi 6E assist.
The HomePod mini at the moment accommodates the S5 chip from the Apple Watch Sequence 5 and first-generation Apple Watch SE. Late 2024 will doubtless see the introduction of the Apple Watch Sequence 10 and the S10 chip, in order that’s probably the most superior chip Apple may feasibly give the gadget.
The 2023 HomePod accommodates the S7 chip, the identical chip utilized in 2021’s Apple Watch Sequence 7. Regardless of the introduction of the S8 chip in late 2022 within the Apple Watch Sequence 8, Apple Watch Extremely, and second-generation Apple Watch SE, Apple elected to make use of the S7 chip. This implies it is not sure that Apple will use its newest S-series chip within the second-generation HomePod mini.
The S6, S7, and S8 chips are all essentially the identical and primarily based on the A13 Bionic chip. The S9 chip, alternatively, is predicted to be primarily based on the A15 Bionic chip, resulting in main efficiency and effectivity enhancements. The S6, S7, or S8 chip can be a notable improve for the HomePod mini, however the S9 or S10 chip may supply much more substantial enhancements.
It additionally appears extremely doubtless {that a} new HomePod mini will are available a refreshed collection of coloration choices. The present gadget is accessible in Area Grey, Blue, Yellow, White, and Orange. With the reintroduced full-size HomePod, Apple swapped Area Grey for Midnight, so an identical change appears doubtless for the HomePod mini at a minimal.
It is usually doable that Apple may wait to introduce a brand new HomePod mini till the debut of a third-generation full-size HomePod, particularly if it consists of new options. Apple is growing an up to date model of the HomePod that can function a 7-inch show, in line with Ming-Chi Kuo. The HomePod with a 7-inch show is predicted to come back out subsequent yr on the earliest.
