Apple is reportedly refreshing the HomePod mini for the first time in six years, and the headline feature is Siri's new AI skills.
Apple is expected to unveil a second-generation HomePod mini on October 13 as part of its "Welcome home" event, according to MacRumors. The device is rumored to pack a newer chip that enables Siri's AI features, though only with a nearby iPhone doing the heavy lifting. It should also bring better sound, Apple's N1 chip with Wi-Fi 7, a second-generation Ultra Wideband chip, and new pink and green color options. The design itself isn't changing, and the current HomePod mini already costs $129, up from its original $99 price.
The original HomePod mini launched on this exact date back in 2020 and has run on 2019-era Apple Watch silicon ever since, so this looks less like an iteration and more like an overdue replacement. Leaning on a connected iPhone for Siri's AI processing, rather than handling it on the speaker itself, suggests Apple is managing chip and battery costs rather than declaring the smart speaker problem solved.
A six-year wait for a budget speaker to catch up with the rest of Apple's lineup says more about where smart speakers rank in Apple's priorities than any spec bump does.