Apple launches HomePod mini 2 at $149 with Siri AI arriving later

Apple announced the HomePod mini 2 on 13 October 2026 at $149, with pre-orders opening the same day and shipping set for 30 October. The new smart speaker carries an S10 chip, a Sound Glow light feature on its top panel, and support for pairing four units with the new Apple TV 4K for surround sound. Siri AI, the headline software feature, will not be available at launch.9to5mac.com+1

The HomePod mini 2 matters because it is Apple's first smallest smart speaker built around the S10 chip, which replaces the S5 chip in the original model. That chip enables advanced computational audio and lays the groundwork for Siri AI, Apple's upgraded voice assistant that debuted with iOS 27. The $149 price is $20 above the predecessor, which is being discontinued, marking a clear step up in Apple's smart home lineup.theverge.com

What the announcement includes

The S10 chip, which debuted in the Apple Watch Series 10 in 2024, drives computational audio that analyses music in real time to optimise dynamic range, loudness, and acoustic performance. The jump from the S5 chip to the S10, along with Wi-Fi 6E and BLE 6.0 connectivity, should improve speed and responsiveness over the original mini. Four HomePod mini 2 units can pair with the Apple TV 4K for surround sound.engadget.com

Sound Glow turns the speaker's top panel into a light display that pulses in sync with music, reacting to bass and treble. Colours are drawn from the song's album artwork, creating a unique light experience for each track. Users can also select ambient soundscapes like rain, forest, or ocean sounds to trigger bespoke animations. The feature works with the LED lights on top of the speaker.

Siri AI will arrive in a future software update rather than at launch, Apple confirmed. The feature requires pairing with an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone or iPad — an iPhone 15 Pro or newer — and will be available in English across the US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, and India. Apple confirmed Siri AI will not come to existing HomePod minis.

Why Siri AI is delayed

Once Siri AI arrives, it will recognise up to six users by voice and connect to their device for personalised information like Messages. The assistant can access personal context including calendars and text messages — for example, setting a reminder for a parent's birthday by checking the calendar, or scanning messages for music recommendations. Personal context relies on voice recognition to keep information private.

The HomePod mini 2 also works as a speaker for the Mac, offering a persistent AirPlay connection that works on any Mac model supporting Wi-Fi 6E or higher. As a home hub, it controls smart home devices and supports Sound Recognition, listening for smoke or carbon monoxide alarms and sending an alert if detected. Two units can serve as default Mac speakers.

The speaker comes in pink, green, blue, white, and midnight. Pre-orders began on 13 October 2026, with shipping on 30 October at $149. The original HomePod mini launched in 2020 at $99; Apple raised the price to $129 earlier in 2026 before discontinuing it. Apple says the new model will run HomePod software 27.2.

Price, colours, and launch date

Apple announced the HomePod mini 2 alongside the HomeView smart display at $299, the fourth-generation Apple TV 4K at $299, and smart home devices developed with LG Electronics and Schneider Electric starting at $199. Siri AI is also in beta on the new Apple TV 4K, suggesting the assistant is not fully ready across Apple's home products.

The publication also observed that the speakers do not appear to have received a significant audio upgrade from the original mini, despite the new chip and connectivity. Siri AI's arrival date remains unspecified. Apple has not given a timeframe for when the update will ship, leaving buyers of the $149 speaker without the headline feature at launch. The HomePod mini 2 goes on sale 30 October 2026, and pre-orders are open now.