For the first time since 2020, we can expect a new version of the HomePod mini in 2025. We already know this about the HomePod mini 2.
We already know this about the HomePod mini 2
Apple introduced the HomePod mini in 2020 along with the iPhone 12 series, and nothing has really changed since then. Apple added some new colors in 2021, including blue, orange and yellow. But next year, Apple will update the HomePod mini for the first time in half a decade. This is what you can expect:
A new network chip
According to the latest rumors, Apple is discontinuing its own internal network chip (codenamed ‘Proximate‘ in the HomePod mini 2. This makes it one of the first products to receive this network chip and Wi-Fi 6E.
According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, this networking chip has the ability to serve as a wireless access point, potentially making the HomePod mini 2 much more than just a smart speaker. However, it is unclear whether Apple plans to use this capability.
No Apple Intelligence
While the HomePod is basically ideal for Apple Intelligence features, especially when it comes to Siri, it doesn’t look like the HomePod mini 2 will support it. The future smart home display, also called ‘HomePad’, on the other hand, will probably have support for Apple Intelligence.
To support Apple Intelligence, Apple would have to put an A17 Pro or A18 chipset in the HomePod mini, which would greatly increase the cost. Apple currently uses Apple Watch chipsets in the HomePod. For example, the current HomePod mini has the S5 chipset from the Apple Watch Series 5 and 1st generation Apple Watch SE.
It’s unclear whether Apple might add ChatGPT integration or Private Cloud Compute for Apple Intelligence requests from Siri, as that doesn’t require much computing power. We will have to be patient for this.
Download the iPhoned app
