HomePod Mini 2: What We Can Expect from the 2025 Model

Apple released its first HomePod mini in November 2020, and it has been over four years since, suggesting a new version may be imminent. Last week, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman said Apple would launch a new version of the HomePod mini sometime in 2024. The new model will likely adopt the company’s custom combined Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip, with support for Wi-Fi 6E, though it is not clear if Wi-Fi 6E support would actually be enabled, as a faster internet connection might be supported than HomePod mini to date, with current versions using Wi-Fi 4.

HomePod Mini 2: What to Expect from the Upcoming 2025 Model and Its Rumored Upgrades

We’re hearing a lot of speculation about the next-generation HomePod mini, and while precise details are limited, a handful of upgrades are expected. They may also have features like a more powerful “S” chip, higher sound quality, and the latest second-gen Ultra Wideband (UWB) chip that cut down on latency with Handoff. The existing HomePod mini is powered by the S5 chip, which first appeared in the 2019 Apple Watch Series 5, so an upgrade to a newer chip should result in better performance.

Apple is also said to be developing a complete smart home hub separate from the HomePod, and it could be released in the first quarter of next year, potentially as early as March. The new smart hub is said to come with a wall-mountable 6-inch screen or a tabletop base with a speaker made into it. While this sounds a lot like the HomePod mini, its also potentially like a more interactive version of that device with the addition of a display.

As for Siri, it’s unclear whether any updates to Apple’s voice assistant are planned for the new HomePod mini. Unlike the smart home hub, which might include Apple Intelligence, the HomePod mini is not expected to gain the same treatment. The device may be a major upgrade to Apple’s smart home ecosystem, which could finally improve with upgraded hardware and new features.

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