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, the hardware for both is already complete and has only been held back by the same delay as Apple TV and HomePad – the wait for the AI-powered Siri experience. With WWDC, it's now clear when this final component will arrive.
The HomePod mini was introduced in October 2020 - over five years ago - and has remained unchanged since, aside from new colors. The larger, second-generation HomePod arrived in January 2023, also without any major updates. Both use dated chips and are awaiting a completely revamped, AI-powered Siri experience. 2026 could be the year Apple finally brings its smart home audio lineup up to date: Along with the HomePad and the Apple Security Camera, the new HomePods will form the core of a smart home offensive with a roadmap extending to 2028. All of these devices will be paired with the same LLM-based Siri experience.
Key Facts at a Glance
| Detail | HomePod mini 2 | HomePod 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Chip | S9, S10 or S11 (Apple Watch class) | unknown, presumably more efficient |
| 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 | Siri AI via iOS 27 | Siri AI via iOS 27 |
| Price | €109 (unchanged) | expected price €349 (unchanged) |
| Market launch | Autumn 2026 | Autumn 2026 |
HomePod mini 2
Approximately 2,000 days without an update
In early April 2026, the HomePod mini surpassed approximately 2,000 days without a single hardware update – no other active Apple product has remained untouched for so long. The S5 chip used in it originates from the Apple Watch Series 5 released in 2019.
Chip: from S5 to S9 or newer
The biggest internal leap concerns the chip. Leaked Apple code lists the HomePod mini 2, codenamed B525, with a T8310 chip – the same architecture as in the Apple Watch Series 9, 10, and 11. Compared to the S5, this means significantly more speed: faster audio processing, better computational audio, and more efficient operation. It's important to note, however, that this chip does not make the HomePod mini 2 capable of running Apple Intelligence. Local AI processing remains exclusive to the HomePad with its A18 chip – new Apple Intelligence features on the small speaker will therefore likely run via the cloud rather than directly on the device.
Design and colors
According to multiple reports, the design remains unchanged – the round, spherical shape is retained. The only new feature is the color: Apple reportedly tested a red version, according to Gurman, and other colors are conceivable.
Connectivity
Noticeable improvements in wireless connectivity are expected. The HomePod mini 2 will likely receive the N1 chip for Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread – though this isn't confirmed, as Apple occasionally omits the N1 chip in lower-priced products. At a minimum, Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 are expected to replace the current Wi-Fi 4. Additionally, a second-generation UWB chip will be included for improved handoff functionality between the iPhone and the speaker.
Price
The price is expected to remain at 109 euros – Apple is deliberately positioning the HomePod mini as an affordable entry into the smart home ecosystem.
HomePod 3
What is known – and what is not
There are significantly fewer concrete rumors about the larger HomePod than about the mini, and the most recent roadmap reports have focused primarily on the HomePod mini and Apple TV. However, Mark Gurman has explicitly confirmed that a new full-sized HomePod is coming – and this speaker will also receive the same Siri update as the other Home devices.
Chip and sound
The current second-generation HomePod uses the S7 chip from the Apple Watch Series 7. Details about its successor chip are lacking, but an upgrade to at least the S9 level is considered very likely. This would enable improved computational audio - the technology where the chip adjusts the sound to the room in real time. The N1 chip with Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread is also expected; Thread is particularly important for smart home users because it allows direct communication with Matter devices.
Design
There are no indications of a redesign. The HomePod 3 is likely to closely resemble the current model: mesh fabric casing, touch surface on top, same dimensions. New colors may be added.
Siri AI with Apple Intelligence
The key difference from its predecessor is Siri AI. Whether the HomePod 3 will feature a chip capable of locally processing Apple Intelligence, like the A18 in the HomePad, remains to be seen. It's more likely that the larger HomePod will also forward AI requests to an iPhone or the HomePad – but will respond noticeably more intelligently than before thanks to the new, LLM-based Siri experience.
Price
The current HomePod costs 349 euros; a price change is not expected.
When the new HomePods are expected to be released
According to Gurman, both HomePods – as well as the new Apple TV – should have been hardware-ready since 2025. Apple held them back because Siri AI is intended to be the central selling point. This timeline is now becoming more concrete: With the unveiling of Siri AI at WWDC, the biggest uncertainty has been resolved – the feature will initially be released as a beta and is expected to be rolled out widely in the fall.
A fresh piece of evidence, particularly relevant to the HomePod, comes from the beta code: In the second developer beta of tvOS 27 – which uses the same software foundation as the HomePod – developer Filipe Espósito discovered references to the new, Apple Intelligence-based Siri generation, specifically within the HomePod setup process. Since Siri AI doesn't yet run on any HomePod, such a reference deep within the setup code is considered a strong indication that Apple is actively preparing the feature for the speakers. At WWDC itself, the HomePod and Apple TV were not mentioned during the presentation of Siri AI.
The two most likely windows remain: September, coinciding with the iPhone 18 Pro and iOS 27, or, if Apple separates the Home products from the iPhone event, the period between October and December. The latest report points more towards the latter: instead of the already jam-packed September keynote, an October event primarily focused on the Mac is considered more probable. The declining global inventory of current HomePods also suggests that something is imminent – a classic sign of an upcoming update.
Several developments underscore that the AI roadmap is now in place: internal restructuring, simply more development time, and above all, the fact that Siri AI relies on Gemini models via Apple's private cloud computing. 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.
Open question: Siri AI in the EU
For the German-speaking market, one caveat remains: Siri AI will not initially launch on iPhones and iPads in the EU because Apple cites the Digital Markets Act as an obstacle. Macs and Apple Vision Pro are exempt and will receive the feature here as well, while the Apple Watch is effectively tied to its paired iPhone. Because the restriction is not based on technical limitations but rather on the regulatory classification of iPhones and iPads as core platforms, it is currently unclear how Apple will categorize the HomePod. Therefore, it is not yet possible to say whether the new voice control will be available on the speakers in Germany at launch.
For whom is the wait worthwhile?
HomePod mini
Anyone who owns a HomePod mini is using a device with a 2019 chip. The upgrade to S9 or newer and Siri AI alone make the HomePod mini 2 a worthwhile purchase – provided the price remains at 109 euros.
HomePod
Those who already own the larger HomePod from 2023 will find fewer reasons to upgrade. The sound quality is already very good; the main arguments would be Siri AI and the more modern connectivity with Wi-Fi 7 and Thread.
Our assessment: don't buy any of the current HomePods right now. Waiting until autumn is almost always worthwhile – the successors 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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