Apple today officially launched the second-generation HomePod mini (HomePod mini 2), bringing a comprehensive upgrade to its compact smart speaker: it features the soon-to-be-released Siri AI large model capabilities, adds multiple trendy color options, strengthens audio hardware, introduces a music lighting effect called Sound Glow, and expands into new scenarios including home theater and Mac audio output. The US version is priced at $149, with pre-orders starting today and official sales beginning on October 30.
Compared to the first-generation product, the second-generation Apple (NASDAQS: AAPL) HomePod mini retains the spherical woven mesh design, with the color palette expanded to five options including white, midnight, blue, green, and pink. The colorful body can visually complement Apple desktop devices such as the iMac, creating a unified home desktop style. Internally, the device is equipped with the Apple S10 chip, relying on computational audio technology to optimize sound dynamics, loudness, and acoustic performance in real time, still delivering a 360-degree surround sound field, and supporting single-unit playback, stereo pairing, and multi-room audio networking.
The biggest highlight of this update is the introduction of Siri AI capabilities for this model, which will not be available at launch but will be rolled out through a subsequent software update. Siri AI is built on Apple's new Foundation model architecture. When paired with an iPhone or iPad running Apple Intelligence, the speaker can recognize voiceprints of up to 6 users in the home and access personal context information: for example, extracting songs recommended by others from text messages, creating reminders based on calendar and location, retrieving recipes from emails, and adding ingredients to shopping lists. Even without an Apple Intelligence device, users can experience Siri AI's web knowledge base, multi-turn natural conversations, and music discovery capabilities.
Home entertainment experience sees a major breakthrough. Paired with the fourth-generation Apple TV 4K, users can use four HomePod mini 2 units to build a four-speaker surround sound system. The device will automatically detect speaker placement, calibrate audio timing and volume, achieving Apple's most immersive home theater solution to date. Additionally, the speaker can serve as an external speaker for Mac, supporting audio output for movies, games, FaceTime calls, and other scenarios. The Mac needs Wi-Fi 6E or above network support.
The new Sound Glow lighting interaction feature turns the touch area on top of the speaker into a visual canvas. The lights pulse in real time with the music's highs and lows, generating exclusive color effects based on the currently playing album cover. When playing ambient sounds like rain, custom animations are also triggered, providing an atmospheric experience beyond hearing.
Smart home capabilities continue to be strengthened. As a home hub, users can control door locks, garage doors, curtains, thermostats, lights, and other devices via voice, and support one-click execution of automation scenes. Sound recognition can monitor smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. Once an alarm sound is detected, it immediately pushes notifications to iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch. Users can also remotely access the speaker through the Home app to enable intercom at home. It is also compatible with Apple Home Collection doorbells and cameras, using facial recognition to announce visitor identities, completing the security experience.
Privacy protection remains the underlying design of the product. Siri AI requests on the HomePod mini 2 support on-device processing or private cloud computing. Data processed through private cloud computing will not be stored or accessed by Apple. The product has also made sufficient optimizations in environmental protection: all magnets use 100% recycled rare earth elements, circuit board copper, gold plating, and solder are all recycled materials, and packaging is entirely made of recyclable fiber materials, supporting Apple's 2030 carbon neutrality goal across its entire supply chain.
Regarding availability, the second-generation HomePod mini 2 is available for pre-order in the United States and more than 23 countries and regions worldwide. Siri AI initially only supports English, covering the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, India, New Zealand, Singapore, and South Africa, with device compatibility requiring HomePod 27.2 firmware. Kaiann Drance, Apple's Vice President of Global Home Product Marketing, said: "The second-generation HomePod mini combines Siri AI, new colors, and excellent sound quality. Leveraging personal context and a vast knowledge base, Siri AI makes music discovery richer. A single speaker can fill an entire room, while stereo and multi-room modes further expand the listening boundaries. Paired with the new Apple TV 4K, it delivers our most immersive home theater yet. Voice control also makes whole-home smart home security management simple."