Apple finally updated the HomePod mini. The original came out in November 2020, and the HomePod mini 2, announced on October 13, is the first real refresh in almost six years. It costs $149, goes on sale October 30, and looks almost exactly like the old one.
So if you already have a HomePod mini on a shelf, should you replace it? For most people, not yet. The headline feature, Siri AI, isn’t available at launch, and most of the other upgrades only matter if you have specific Apple gear. Here’s the breakdown. Reviews aren’t out yet, so this is based on Apple’s announcement and specs, plus reporting from MacRumors and Macworld. We haven’t heard it, so we’re not making any sound-quality claims.
The basics
- Price: $149 in the US. Macworld notes the original launched at $99, and Apple raised it to $129 in June 2026.
- Availability: Pre-orders opened October 13. It’s in stores starting Friday, October 30, in the US and more than 23 other countries and regions.
- Colors: Pink, green, blue, white and midnight.
- Size: Apple lists 3.3 inches tall and 3.9 inches wide, which Macworld says matches the original. It weighs 335 grams.
- In the box: The speaker and a 20W power adapter.
- Requirements: An iPhone or iPad with the latest iOS or iPadOS, plus Wi-Fi.
What’s new compared with the 2020 HomePod mini
Here’s what changed, based on Apple’s specs and Macworld’s comparison:
- Chip: The S10 replaces the original’s S5. Apple says it powers computational audio that adjusts dynamic range and loudness in real time.
- Wireless: Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 6, up from Wi-Fi 4 and Bluetooth 5.0 on the original, per Macworld. Thread and an Ultra Wideband chip are still there.
- Four-speaker surround with the new Apple TV 4K: New. Apple’s fine print says it needs four HomePod mini 2 or HomePod (2nd generation) speakers in matching front and rear pairs, plus an Apple TV 4K (4th generation). The original HomePod mini isn’t on that list.
- Mac speaker: HomePod mini 2 can be the default speaker for a Mac with Wi-Fi 6E or later, using one speaker or a stereo pair.
- Sound Glow: The top light now pulses with the music, using colors matched to the album art. Apple says voice control for Sound Glow needs an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone.
- Siri AI: Coming later (details below).
What hasn’t changed much is the speaker hardware itself. Macworld notes that it still uses a full-range driver, dual passive radiators and a 360-degree waveguide. Whether the S10 makes it sound noticeably better is something reviews will need to answer.
Siri AI: when it arrives, and what it needs
This is the main reason to want the new model, so here’s how Apple puts it.
Apple says Siri AI is “coming to HomePod mini 2 in a future software update” and “will be available later as a free software update.” It will be available “in English” in the US, Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa and the UK. Apple hasn’t given a date.
The requirements, per Apple’s footnotes:
- The owner of the home in the Home app needs an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone or iPad running the latest software, with Siri AI turned on and set to a supported language.
- Personal requests, like finding a song a friend texted you, need a paired Apple Intelligence-enabled device. Once Siri AI is on, Apple says other people in the home can use its general knowledge and conversation features without one.
- On limits, Apple says: “Certain Apple Intelligence features that rely on server-side models are subject to daily usage limits. Expanded access to such features will be available for a fee in the future.”
The original HomePod mini won’t get Siri AI. CNET first reported that it would, then corrected its story. MacRumors and 9to5Mac report that Apple has confirmed Siri AI is not coming to the first-generation model. MacRumors also reports that Apple still calls Siri AI a beta.
Smart home features
HomePod mini 2 works as a home hub for controlling accessories through the Home app, and Apple lists a temperature and humidity sensor. It also lists Sound Recognition, which listens for smoke and carbon monoxide alarm sounds and sends a notification to your iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch. Apple’s fine print says the feature “should not be relied upon in circumstances where you may be harmed or injured, or in high-risk or emergency situations.” It also needs the updated Home architecture.
If you’re building a home theater
Surround sound is the clearest upgrade case. If you’re getting the new Apple TV 4K and want a small surround setup, the HomePod mini 2 is the only mini that works. A full setup takes four speakers, and Macworld notes that the front and rear pairs can be different supported models. For more on the box itself, see our take on whether the new Apple TV 4K is worth it.
Who should upgrade
Upgrade if you want Siri AI on a speaker and you have an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone, or you’re building surround sound with the new Apple TV 4K. It also makes sense if you want a Mac desk speaker and have a Mac with Wi-Fi 6E.
Wait if your original HomePod mini mostly plays music and controls lights. It keeps working the way it does now. Siri AI isn’t out yet, and reviews will tell you whether the new chip makes a difference you can hear.
Buy it as a first speaker if you’re in the Apple ecosystem and don’t own one yet. Spending $20 more than the old model’s last price gets you a newer chip and a path to Siri AI.
Our take
Don’t rush to replace a working HomePod mini. The upgrades that matter most are Siri AI, which comes later, and surround sound with the new Apple TV 4K. If either is a priority, the HomePod mini 2 is the one to get. If you’re buying your first Apple speaker, get the new model rather than hunting for the old one. Everyone else can wait for Siri AI to arrive and for reviews to weigh in on the sound.
FAQ
When does the HomePod mini 2 come out? Friday, October 30, 2026. Pre-orders opened October 13.
Does the HomePod mini 2 have Siri AI at launch? No. Apple says Siri AI is coming in a future software update, in English, in eight countries at first.
Will my original HomePod mini get Siri AI? No. MacRumors and 9to5Mac report that Apple confirmed it’s exclusive to HomePod mini 2.
Can I use original HomePod minis for surround sound with the new Apple TV? No. Apple lists HomePod mini 2 or HomePod (2nd generation) speakers as required for four-speaker surround.
Sources
- Apple Newsroom: Apple announces the next generation of HomePod mini (October 13, 2026)
- Apple: HomePod mini 2 technical specifications
- Macworld: HomePod mini 2 release date, price and specs (updated October 15, 2026)
- MacRumors: Apple announces $149 HomePod mini 2 (October 13, 2026)
- MacRumors: No, HomePod mini 1 won’t support Siri AI (October 14, 2026)
- MacRumors: Which Apple home devices get Siri AI, and when (October 14, 2026)
- 9to5Mac: No, Siri AI is not coming to the original HomePod mini (October 14, 2026)
