Apple has released the HomePod mini 2 through a press release rather than a launch event. It is the first major update to the speaker since 2020. On the outside it looks the same as the original. Inside, it moves from the S5 chip to an S10. It also adds Sound Glow lighting, four-speaker home theater support with the new Apple TV 4K and the ability to work as speakers for a Mac. Two caveats stand out. Siri AI, which the source describes as the headline feature, is not available at launch. The US price has also risen from $99 to $149.
What you need to know
- HomePod mini 2 replaces the S5 chip with an S10, which adjusts volume and dynamic range in real time while keeping 360-degree sound.
- Siri AI will arrive later in an update, in English only and in eight countries, including the US, UK, Canada and Australia.
- The US price is $149, compared with $99 for the first model at launch.
- Pre-orders opened on October 13 in the US and more than 20 other countries. Store availability begins October 30, and the speaker runs HomePod 27.2.
Apple’s new HomePod mini 2 speakers
A quiet announcement instead of a big stage
Ahead of October 13, rumors pointed to a smart home hub, a new Apple TV and a new speaker. Apple also introduced HomeView, a smart display with Face ID and Siri AI. According to the source, though, HomePod mini 2 was the main product of the day, and Apple announced everything through press releases.
Apple also unveiled the Apple Home Collection, a line of smart home accessories. The first items are due in December, and the rest will follow in early 2027.
HomePod mini 2 launched without a presentation
Apple’s audio activity extends beyond its own brand. The day before, the company began teasing new Beats headphones through stars of the football World Cup.
No new iPads appeared, despite widespread talk about them, including rumors of an iPad mini with an OLED display. The source also notes that on October 12, one day before Apple’s announcement, CMF introduced its first speakers. The Speaker S and Speaker M are shaped like milk cartons with a handle on top.
Same design outside, new hardware inside
Placed next to the original, the new speaker looks identical. It has the same spherical shape, the same mesh fabric and the same touch panel on top. The only design change is the color range: Midnight, white, blue, pink and green.
HomePod mini 2 can be used as a stereo pair for a Mac
S10 chip
The S10 replaces the older S5. It analyzes music in real time and adjusts volume and dynamic range. Sound remains 360-degree.
Sound Glow
The top panel now lights up and pulses in time with the music, reacting to bass and high frequencies. Colors are matched to the album artwork. Ambient sounds such as rain trigger a calmer animation.
Four-speaker home theater
With the new fourth-generation Apple TV 4K, users can build a four-speaker system using HomePod mini 2 or the second-generation HomePod, arranged in pairs at the front and back. The Apple TV detects where each speaker is placed, so the system needs little manual setup.
Speakers for a Mac
HomePod mini 2 can also connect to a Mac as regular speakers for films, games and FaceTime calls. This requires a Mac with Wi-Fi 6E or newer.
Siri AI arrives later, with limits
Siri AI is not available at launch. Apple promises to add the feature later through an update, in English only and in eight countries, including the US, UK, Canada and Australia.
Once available, the speaker can recognize the voices of up to six people in a household. When paired with an iPhone that supports Apple Intelligence, it can find a song a friend recommended in Messages or a recipe from an email. Even without such an iPhone, the assistant is described as able to hold a natural conversation and answer almost any question.
The new Siri AI animation
For users outside the supported language and countries, these features remain theoretical for now. The source notes, for example, that Russian is not supported and that Apple has not said when it will be.
Smart home features
The speaker works as a home hub, so lights, locks and blinds can be controlled even when users are away. A sound recognition feature can detect a fire alarm or carbon monoxide detector and send a notification to an iPhone and Apple Watch. The source’s specification table also lists face recognition via video calls among the smart home features.
A noticeably higher price
In the US, HomePod mini 2 costs $149. The first model launched at $99, so the increase is $50. The source calls this a significant jump for Apple’s most affordable speaker. Pre-orders opened on October 13 in the US and more than 20 other countries, and the speaker reaches stores on October 30. It runs HomePod 27.2.
HomePod mini 2 price in the US
HomePod mini 2 at a glance
| Feature | HomePod mini 2 |
|---|---|
| Processor | Apple S10 |
| Sound | 360-degree, computational audio |
| Lighting | Sound Glow, synced to music |
| Siri AI | Later via update, English only |
| Voice recognition | Up to 6 people |
| Home theater | Up to 4 speakers with Apple TV 4K (4th generation) |
| Mac speaker | Yes, Macs with Wi-Fi 6E or newer |
| Smart home | Hub, alarm sound recognition, face recognition via video calls |
| Colors | Midnight, white, blue, pink, green |
| Software | HomePod 27.2 |
| US price | $149 |
| Pre-orders | From October 13 |
| On sale | October 30 |
Is it worth upgrading from the first HomePod mini?
The source author’s view is that owners of a working first-generation HomePod mini who mainly use it for music have no reason to rush. Siri AI is not available at launch and, when it arrives, will support only English in eight countries. The real-world difference in sound quality has also yet to be tested.
The author sees a stronger case for buyers who are building an Apple TV home theater or who use Siri in English. For them, the new processor, the lighting and the four-speaker setup add meaningful capabilities. The author also argues that Apple supports its speakers with updates for years, which should give the new model room to grow.
