Apple's HomePod Mini 2 Brings S10 Chip and Delayed Siri AI

The Verge reports that Apple has announced the HomePod Mini 2, a refreshed smart speaker priced at $149. That is $20 more than the model it replaces, which Apple is discontinuing. Preorders opened October 13, and shipping is set for October 30. The speaker was announced alongside other home products, according to The Verge: a HomeView smart display at $299, a fourth-generation Apple TV 4K at $299, and smart home devices developed with LG Electronics and Schneider Electric starting at $199.

The Verge describes the S10 chip as the biggest internal upgrade. The chip first appeared in the Apple Watch Series 10 in 2024, and Apple says it will enable Siri AI with more conversational responses. However, the HomePod Mini 2 will not have Siri AI when it ships. Apple says the feature will arrive in a later software update. The Verge reports availability in English in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, and India, and says an Apple Intelligence-capable iPhone - an iPhone 15 Pro or newer - is required to enable the upgrade.

Once upgraded, according to the report, users would get Siri AI similar to compatible iPhones. Apple says it can understand natural-language commands and access more general knowledge, as well as personal information such as calendars and text messages. Apple's examples, as reported by The Verge, include setting a reminder after checking a calendar for a birthday and scanning messages for a music recommendation. The Verge says personal context depends on an Apple Intelligence iPhone and voice recognition for privacy, while anyone in the home can use the speaker for questions, music, and most smart home controls. Apple confirmed Siri AI will not come to existing HomePod Minis.

The Verge says the speaker's audio hardware does not appear to have been upgraded. Apple describes the sound as the same. New features include sound glow, which syncs LEDs on top of the speaker with album art or Apple's ambient soundscapes; support as a Mac default speaker; and surround pairing with the new Apple TV 4K. Up to four Mini 2 speakers can pair with the Apple TV 4K, and two can work with a pair of second-generation full-sized HomePods. The Verge reports automatic calibration with the Apple TV 4K and an audio companion feature that enables persistent AirPlay with low-latency sound, requiring Wi-Fi 6E or higher.

The Verge notes the first HomePod Mini launched six years ago, and the move from the S5 chip to the S10, plus Wi-Fi 6E and BLE 6.0, should improve speed and responsiveness. The report calls the lack of a significant audio upgrade disappointing and says the delayed Siri AI creates a disconnect between Siri on a phone and Siri at home. It also notes Siri AI is in beta on the new Apple TV 4K.

Interpretation: The launch positions the Mini 2 as part of Apple's broader home push, but the most promoted intelligence feature is not available at purchase. The Verge's assessment suggests buyers are getting familiar sound now, with a promise of smarter Siri later.