Apple also replaced the old S5 processor in the original HomePod mini with the newer S10 chip, allowing for improved computational audio. Other notable additions include four-speaker surround sound when paired with the fourth-generation Apple TV 4K, the ability to use the HomePod mini as a Mac speaker, and Sound Glow, which turns the illuminated touch surface into a colorful screen that responds to music. Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 6 upgrade the speaker’s wireless technology.
The HomePod mini 2 comes in five colors: pink, green, blue, white, and midnight. It costs $149, compared to the $129 price of the previous model following Apple’s price increase in June 2026. Pre-orders opened on October 13, and the new speaker will go on sale on Friday, October 30. It’s a substantial upgrade for anyone buying their first HomePod mini, although existing owners may find the strongest reason to upgrade is the new Siri experience.
HomePod mini 2 vs. HomePod mini: The 10 most important changes
| Feature | HomePod mini 2 (2026) | HomePod mini (2020) |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Processor | Apple S10 | Apple S5 |
| 2. Siri | Siri AI, coming later | Original Siri Features |
| 3. Personal context | Personal context between apps with iPhone/iPad support | Limited personal requests |
| 4. Home theater | Four-speaker surround sound with Apple TV 4K (4th generation) | Stereo pairing |
| 5. Mac Audio | Can serve as the default Mac speaker on compatible Macs | AirPlay Audio |
| 6. Visual effects | New Sound Glow musical animations. | Siri illuminated/touch surface |
| 7. Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6E | Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n) |
| 8.Bluetooth | bluetooth 6 | bluetooth 5.0 |
| 9. colors | Midnight, white, blue, green, pink. | Midnight, white, blue, yellow, orange. |
| 10. Price | $149 | $99 at launch; $129 most recently |
The biggest improvements are in the software intelligence, audio capabilities and wireless connectivity, rather than the physical design of the speaker. Its fundamental audio hardware remains familiar, including the full-range driver, dual passive radiators, and 360-degree acoustic waveguide.
HomePod mini 2 release date: When will it go on sale?
Apple announced the HomePod mini 2 on Tuesday, October 13, 2026 at its “Welcome Home” product launch. The new speaker is available for pre-order immediately, with the official release date set for Friday, October 30, 2026.
Customers in the US and more than 23 other countries and regions can order the HomePod mini 2 through the Apple online store or the Apple Store app. It will also be available in Apple stores starting October 30. Other retailers are expected to have stock of the speaker, although Apple has not provided a confirmed list of third-party sellers.
The new model arrives almost six years after the launch of the original HomePod mini in November 2020. Apple was expected to update the speaker in 2025, but reports suggested that development of its redesigned Siri assistant delayed the launch. Although the new hardware is finally arriving, customers will still have to wait for a subsequent software update before they can use Siri AI.
HomePod mini 2 design: What does it look like?
Apple
Apple has not radically redesigned the HomePod mini for its second generation. The new speaker retains the familiar spherical shape, with a seamless acoustic mesh covering its body and an illuminated touch-sensitive surface on top. It is designed to fit discreetly on a desk, bookshelf, kitchen counter or nightstand.
The HomePod mini 2 measures 3.3 inches (84.3 mm) high and 3.9 inches (97.9 mm) wide, exactly the same dimensions as its predecessor. It weighs 335g, making it slightly lighter than the original 345g model. Apple continues to use acoustically transparent fabric, allowing sound to travel through the enclosure in all directions.
The most obvious visual changes are the colors. The HomePod mini 2 is available in pink, green, blue, white, and midnight. Pink and green replace the outgoing orange and yellow options, while blue has a darker appearance than before. Interestingly, these colors closely match those revealed in Apple’s software before the announcement, although a previously rumored red version has not appeared.
The other major visual improvement is Sound Glow, which makes the illuminated surface on top much more expressive. Instead of just showing the familiar Siri animations, you can tap and glow in response to the bass and treble of the music. Colors can reflect the artwork of the song being played, while soundscapes like rain produce their own lighting effects.
Apple hasn’t changed the basic touch controls. Users can still tap to play or pause music, double-tap to skip forward, triple-tap to go back, tap and hold to activate Siri, and use the illuminated plus and minus controls to adjust the volume. So the biggest interface improvements come from Sound Glow and upcoming Siri AI features rather than new physical buttons.
HomePod mini 2 processor: What chip does it use?
The HomePod mini 2 is powered by Apple’s S10 chip, which replaces the S5 processor used in the original HomePod mini since 2020. This is a substantial generational leap, giving the speaker considerably more modern processing hardware and helping to enable Apple’s new AI capabilities and improved audio features.
The S10 enables advanced computational audio, allowing HomePod mini 2 to analyze music in real time and optimize its dynamic range, volume, and acoustic performance. This processing also supports Apple’s expanded home theater features, including four-speaker surround sound when used with a fourth-generation Apple TV 4K.
Perhaps most importantly, the new processor is part of Apple’s push to bring Siri AI to its smart speakers. The redesigned Siri will support more conversational requests, broader world awareness, and personal context awareness, with distributed processing between HomePod, connected Apple devices, and Apple’s Private Cloud Compute servers.
HomePod mini 2 connectivity: What’s changed?
Apple
The HomePod mini 2 brings two confirmed wireless upgrades: Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 6. These replace the older Wi-Fi 4 and Bluetooth 5.0 technologies of the original model, updating the speaker with Apple’s latest wireless ecosystem.
Wi-Fi 6E adds access to the 6 GHz wireless band when used with a compatible router, potentially reducing congestion and improving network performance in busy homes. Bluetooth 6 introduces newer wireless capabilities, although Apple hasn’t specified which Bluetooth improvements the HomePod mini 2 takes advantage of.
The new HomePod mini also supports Thread networking, allowing it to act as part of a compatible smart home network. This helps you communicate with devices like smart lights, sensors, and other compatible accessories without relying exclusively on traditional Wi-Fi connections.
Apple includes an ultra-wideband chip for device proximity and continues to provide support for proximity-based interactions with compatible devices. However, the technical specifications do not identify the generation of the chip, so it is not yet possible to confirm whether this is an improvement over the U1 hardware of the original model.
Despite previous rumors about Apple’s internal wireless networking technology, the company has not named a specific Apple-designed connectivity chip for the HomePod mini 2. The speaker still relies on Wi-Fi for its Internet connection.
HomePod mini 2 price: How much does it cost?
The HomePod mini 2 costs $149/£149, making it $20/£20 more expensive than the previous-generation model at its most recent official price. It’s also $50/£50 more expensive than the original HomePod mini when it launched in November 2020.
Apple initially sold the HomePod mini for $99/£99, but increased the price to $129/£129 in June 2026. So the new model represents another price increase, although it brings a significantly newer processor, support for Siri AI, improved connectivity, and additional audio capabilities.
Unlike Apple’s iPhone, iPad, and Mac, the HomePod mini doesn’t come in different storage configurations. There are no higher capacity versions or additional memory upgrades to choose from, and Apple has not revealed the storage or RAM included in the new speaker.
Apple has not attributed the higher price to the costs of any particular component, so it is unclear whether the S10 chip, memory, new wireless hardware, or other manufacturing expenses influenced the increase. All five colors are available at the same price.
| Model | american price | uk price |
|---|---|---|
| HomePod mini (2020 release) | $99 | £99 |
| HomePod mini (June 2026 price) | $129 | £129 |
| HomePod mini 2 (October 2026) | $149 | £149 |
| Increase on the previous price | +$20 | +£20 |
| Increase on the launch price | +$50 | +50€ |
Should you buy a HomePod mini 2?
The HomePod mini 2 looks like a worthwhile purchase for anyone looking for an affordable Apple smart speaker, particularly those interested in Siri AI, smart home control, and multi-room audio. The S10 chip, improved connectivity and new audio features make it a much more capable device than its predecessor.
However, current HomePod mini owners shouldn’t rush to upgrade. The design and fundamental hardware of the speakers remain largely unchanged, and Siri AI won’t arrive until a future software update. If you use your HomePod primarily to listen to music, a budget first-generation model might be a good choice. For more powerful sound, consider the full-size HomePod.
