Apple's HomePod lineup is about to get its biggest update in years. Both the larger HomePod and the HomePod mini are getting successors – according to Mark Gurman, both are hardware-ready, but are being held back by the same Siri delay as the Apple TV 4K and the HomePad. The release is expected in fall 2026.
The HomePod mini was introduced in October 2020 – over five years ago. Aside from new colors, nothing has changed since then. The larger HomePod (2nd generation) arrived in January 2023, also without any fundamental innovations. Both use outdated chips and are waiting for a more modern Siri.
2026 could be the year Apple finally updates its smart home audio lineup. Along with the HomePod and the Apple Security Camera, the new HomePods form the core of Apple's smart home offensive. As we reported in Apple TV and HomePod mini still waiting for Siri, all Home products are linked to the new LLM-based Siri.
The most important points in brief
| Detail | HomePod mini 2 | HomePod 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Chip | S9, S10 or S11 (Apple Watch class) | Unknown, presumably more powerful |
| Design | Unchanged, new colors (including red) | Expected to remain unchanged |
| Connectivity | N1 chip possible (Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6) | N1 chip expected |
| UWB | 2nd Generation | Probably |
| Siri | Revised version with iOS 27 | Revised version with iOS 27 |
| Price | €109 (unchanged) | Expected price: €349 (unchanged) |
| Release | Autumn 2026 | Autumn 2026 |
HomePod mini 2
2,000 days without an update
The HomePod mini passed the 2,000-day mark since its launch on April 7, 2026 – without a single hardware update. Its S5 chip is the same one used in the 2019 Apple Watch Series 5. No other active Apple product has gone so long without an update.
Chip: From S5 to S9 or newer
The biggest internal leap concerns the chip. Leaked Apple code identifies the HomePod mini 2, codenamed B525, with a T8310 chip – the same architecture as the Apple Watch Series 9, 10, and 11. The performance difference compared to the Series 5 is significant: faster audio processing, improved computational audio, and more efficient operation.
However, the new chip does not make the HomePod mini 2 capable of Apple Intelligence. Local AI processing remains exclusive to the HomePod with the A18 chip. Therefore, new Apple Intelligence features on the HomePod mini 2 will likely run via the cloud rather than locally on the speaker.
Design and colors
According to multiple reports, the design remains unchanged. The round, spherical shape is retained. The only new feature is the colors: Apple has reportedly tested a red version, according to Gurman. Further new colors are possible.
Connectivity
The HomePod mini 2 will likely receive:
- N1 chip for Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6 and Thread (not confirmed – Apple has sometimes omitted the N1 in cheaper products)
- At least Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 as an upgrade to the previous Wi-Fi 4.
- 2nd generation UWB chip for improved handoff functionality between iPhone and HomePod
Price
The price remains at €109. Apple is positioning the HomePod mini as an affordable entry into the smart home ecosystem.
HomePod 3
What we know – and what we don't
There are significantly fewer concrete rumors about the larger HomePod than about the mini. What is certain is that Gurman confirmed in a live Q&A on March 26, 2026, that in addition to the HomePod mini, a new full-sized HomePod is also coming. All three Home products (HomePod, HomePod mini, Apple TV) are awaiting the same Siri update.
Chip and sound
The current HomePod (2nd generation) uses the S7 chip from the Apple Watch Series 7. Details about the successor chip are unknown, but an upgrade to at least the S9 level is very likely. This would enable better computational audio – Apple's technology where the chip adjusts the sound to the room in real time.
The HomePod 3 is expected to receive the N1 chip for Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread. Thread is particularly important for smart home users, as it enables direct communication with Matter devices.
Design
There are no rumors of a redesign. The HomePod 3 is expected to closely resemble the 2nd generation HomePod in appearance: mesh fabric casing, touch surface on top, same dimensions. New colors may be added.
Siri with Apple Intelligence
The key difference from its predecessor: the new Siri. Whether the HomePod 3 will have a chip capable of processing Apple Intelligence locally (like the A18 in the HomePad) is unclear. It's more likely that the larger HomePod will also forward AI requests to an iPhone or the HomePad – but will respond significantly more intelligently than before thanks to the new LLM-based Siri.
Price
The current HomePod costs €349. A price change is not expected.
Release: Everyone is waiting for Siri
According to Gurman, both HomePods – and also the Apple TV 4K – have been hardware-ready since 2025. Apple is holding them back because the new Siri is intended to be the central selling point. This timeline is now becoming more concrete: According to a recent report, the LLM-based Siri, after numerous delays, is planned for the fall – and the HomePod mini is expected to launch alongside the new Apple TV 4K in the same timeframe. The larger HomePod 3 is also dependent on the same Siri update.
The most likely release timeframe for both HomePods:
- September 2026: Along with the iPhone 18 Pro and iOS 27
- October–December 2026: If Apple separates the Home products from the iPhone event
Apple's global inventory of the current HomePod mini and the larger HomePod is declining – a classic sign of upcoming updates.
While it's not guaranteed that Apple will meet the deadline this time – final confirmation is likely to come at WWDC – several developments suggest that the AI roadmap is now in place: internal restructuring, simply more development time, and above all, the fact that the new Siri relies on Gemini models via Apple's private cloud computing platform. For the two speakers, this means less spectacular hardware, but a generation that is, for the first time, closely integrated with Apple's AI ambitions.
For whom is the wait worthwhile?
HomePod mini
Anyone who owns a HomePod mini is using a device with a 2019 chip. The chip upgrade to S9 or newer and the new Siri alone make the HomePod mini 2 a worthwhile purchase – provided the price remains at €109.
HomePod
Those who own the 2nd generation HomePod from 2023 will find fewer reasons to upgrade. The sound quality is already very good. The main arguments would be the new Siri and more modern connectivity (Wi-Fi 7, Thread improvements).
Our recommendation: Don't buy any of the current HomePods right now. Wait until autumn – the new models are practically confirmed and could be part of Apple's biggest smart home update ever. The best products for you: Our Amazon storefront offers a wide selection of accessories, including those for HomeKit. (Image: Shutterstock / cactus__pictures)
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