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Apple's HomePod Mini 2 Now Available for Preorder
Confirmed
In Short: Apple's HomePod Mini 2, featuring Siri AI and new colors, is now available for preorder starting at $149.
Apple announced the HomePod Mini 2 during its 'Welcome Home' event on Tuesday, marking the first refresh of the smart speaker since its 2020 release.
The HomePod Mini 2 is available to preorder starting at $149 and comes in five new colors, including green and blue.
Senior Editor of CNET noted that the older HomePod Mini was showing its age compared to competitors like Google’s Home Speaker, especially in the lower register.
Apple promises that the HomePod Mini 2 will offer unique Siri interactions tailored to individual preferences and habits.
The new model will come equipped with the S10 chip, which Apple says analyzes music in real time to optimize it, and supports advanced computational audio.
The HomePod Mini 2 is also compatible with the new Apple TV 4K model, announced at the same event.
Apple promises future updates that will add an array of Siri AI features, enhancing the speaker's capabilities.
The HomePod Mini 2 is expected to begin shipping on October 30, with pre-orders now open in the U.S. and more than 23 other countries and regions.
The HomePod Mini 2 will run on HomePod software 27.2 and feature 360-degree sound.
Users can also choose from soundscapes like rain or ocean waves to start animations.
The HomePod Mini 2 is $50 more expensive than the original version, which was priced at $99 when it was first released in 2020.
Apple's HomePod Mini 2 is designed to pair with other Apple smart home devices, including the refreshed HomePod Mini.
What this adds
The HomePod Mini 2's higher price point reflects the inclusion of advanced features like the S10 chip and Siri AI, which were not available in the original model.
Apple's decision to refresh the HomePod Mini comes after competitors like Amazon and Google released updated smart speakers in the past year.
The HomePod Mini 2's availability in five new colors and its compatibility with the new Apple TV 4K model are designed to attract a broader audience.
Background
Microsoft's Nvidia-powered Surface RTX Spark Dev Box is now available for preorder, priced at $5,999, and is set to ship in November.
What's confirmed
- Apple is promising Siri AI will let HomePod Mini 2 owners tailor their interactions with the speaker to their own preferences and habits.
- Basic Siri voice commands are all available on the HomePod Mini 2, including the ability to ask questions, set reminders and control Apple Home devices, including the many new home security and smart home products also announced on the Tuesday event.
- The new HomePod mini has an S10 chip that supports advanced computational audio, and Apple says it optimizes dynamic range, loudness, and acoustic performance in real-time.
What's still developing
- As expected, Apple is sticking with the Mini line to help keep prices under control, although this model costs nearly $50 more than the previous HomePod Mini.
- Apple gave the example of playing a song based on a past text message from a friend, even if you don’t really remember what the song is called.
- Today (October 13), Apple is hosting its “Welcome Home” event – an in-person media experience in New York City, rather than the usual Apple Park-based event with a livestream to follow along.
- Get breaking Apple news notifications, save stories for later, listen to articles, and see the latest headlines from your Home Screen.
- A better chip, Siri AI, and more ways to connect to your Apple gear.