Apple HomePod mini 2 would be released in 2025, along with a maxi upgrade
- Expected to launch before the iPhone 17
- New Wi-Fi chip that is also in the next Apple TV
- It probably won’t be called Mini 2: Siri Boogaloo
What has two thumbs and a little news about the HomePod mini? The answer is me. A new report says Apple is working on a refreshed version of its smallest smart home speaker, and it should arrive before the iPhone 17.
The HomePod mini was launched in November 2020 and, apart from a few new color options, hasn’t been updated since.
That’s not necessarily a bad thing: in our HomePod mini review we gave it four stars for its impressive sound and of course it still sounds the same today. But in the exciting world of Bluetooth and wireless speakers, four years is a very long time, and the HomePod could at least use a refresh to keep it current.
What happens to the HomePod mini?
The new report, from Bloombergsays that Apple is working on its own Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip with support for at least Wi-Fi 6E. That chip is intended for multiple devices – iPhones, iPads and Macs – and will be the first on a new HomePod mini and Apple TV 4K. Since the annual iPhone launch always takes place in September, this indicates a launch some time before that.
Details of other improvements to the mini are completely missing. But the report states that Apple is making the improvements as part of its broader smart home revamp: it has been behind the competition for some time and 2025 is the start of the battle back.
Previous reports have revealed other smart home plans for 2025 and beyond: the long-rumored and occasionally leaked HomePod with touchscreen display, which could perhaps be marketed more as a smart home hub (or soundbar) than as a smart speaker; a similar HomePod with an old iMac-style display on an arm, possibly a robotic one; and a smart home security camera, currently scheduled for launch in 2026 with sales expectations in the tens of millions.