Apple released the HomePod mini in November 2020, so the speaker is nearly four years old and worthy of receiving hardware upgrades.
Below, we recap rumors about the next-generation HomePod mini.
The firmest rumor came from Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who in February 2023 said mass shipments of a second-generation HomePod mini would begin in the second half of 2024. However, it is unclear if that info is still accurate, as there have not been any recent HomePod mini rumors from credible sources.
Kuo did not reveal any new features planned for the next HomePod mini, but plausible upgrades could include a newer S-series chip for more advanced computational audio, a second-generation Ultra Wideband chip for a lower-latency Handoff experience, and new color options. The current HomePod mini is equipped with an S5 chip and a U1 chip.
Apple has already refreshed the color options for the HomePod mini a few times. The speaker was released in Blue, Orange, and Yellow in November 2021, and Space Gray was replaced with a virtually-identical Midnight finish a few months ago.
Apple often holds events in both September and October each year, and a new HomePod mini would be a more fitting announcement for the October event in particular this year. A new HomePod mini could also be announced with a press release on the Apple Newsroom website at any point over the coming months.
Read our HomePod mini roundup for more details about the speaker.
