Apple released the HomePod mini nearly five years ago, so you may be wondering when a new version of the speaker will finally arrive.
Below, we recap rumors about a next-generation HomePod mini.
HomePod mini: Timeline
- October 2020: Apple announces the HomePod mini during its iPhone 12 event.
- November 2021: HomePod mini gains blue, orange, and yellow color options.
- January 2023: Apple enables the inactive temperature and humidity sensor in the HomePod mini with a software update.
- July 2024: Apple replaces the HomePod mini's space gray color with a midnight color.
HomePod mini 2: Rumors
In January, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said that Apple was aiming to release a new HomePod mini "toward the end of the year." If that timeframe remains accurate, the HomePod mini 2 will likely be released in September, October, or November this year.
The new HomePod mini will be equipped with an Apple-designed Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip, according to Gurman. He said the chip will support Wi-Fi 6E, which is much faster and has lower latency compared to the current HomePod mini's Wi-Fi 4.
No other features or changes have been rumored yet, but improved sound quality and a newer processor are safe bets. The current HomePod mini is equipped with the Apple Watch Series 5's S5 chip from 2019. The speaker could also be updated with Apple's second-generation Ultra Wideband chip, which debuted in iPhone 15 models.
New color options are likely as well.
