Apple’s small-sized smart speaker, the HomePod mini, launched in 2020, has undergone a significant transformation. Major retailer B&H has listed all of its HomePod mini models as “discontinued.” This development, coupled with the device’s current stock shortage, suggests Apple will soon introduce a refreshed version of the small smart speaker.
HomePod mini 2 is coming
The HomePod mini, launched in 2020 and, despite the addition of new color options a year later, has not received any hardware updates since then. Its successor, the HomePod mini 2, introduces significant improvements.
The next-generation device is expected to feature an updated chip for advanced computational audio capabilities and faster response times. The current HomePod mini features the S5 chip from 2019. Apple is expected to opt for the S9 chip or a more compact variant, the S10, for this new model.
The S5 chip is derived from the A12 Bionic architecture. The new S9 and S10 chips are based on the A13 chip, offering higher CPU and GPU performance, a more advanced Neural Engine, and higher efficiency per watt. This provides a significant leap in performance for tasks like Siri operations and real-time audio adjustment.
The HomePod mini 2 is equipped with the Apple-designed N1 Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip. This new chip supports Wi-Fi 6E, which offers significantly faster and lower latency than the Wi-Fi 4 connection in the current HomePod mini.
Apple is also integrating a second-generation Ultra Wideband (UWB) chip into the device for a more reliable and low-latency Handoff experience. This chip, introduced with the iPhone 15 series in 2023, can precisely detect the exact location and orientation of nearby devices from a much shorter distance.
