Apple is due to release the said HomePod mini 2 next year or 2025, but it’s unclear what new features the upgraded model could bring.
- What’s happening? Authoritative Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believes that the updated HomePod mini 2 will appear sometime in 2024.
- Why care? While Apple has resurrected the full-size HomePod, its little brother is now two years old and could use an update.
- What to do? Read more on Migh -Chi Kuo ‘s Twitter account.
HomePod mini 2 may arrive next year
In a series of tweets, Kuo predicts that the next major update to Apple’s acoustic products will be in the second half of 2024 or the first half of 2025.
He believes that Apple will begin mass production of the second generation HomePod mini no earlier than the second half of next year. According to Kuo, Apple supplier Goertek has received “orders for NPI and HomePod mini 2 assembly, with volume shipments beginning in the second half of 2024.”
Assuming Kuo is right, Apple could have the next HomePod mini ready by fall 2024. However, the analyst doesn’t seem to be so sure about the exact launch date, and he has been wrong about launch dates many times in the past. Unless supply chain issues are fully resolved this year, a delayed HomePod mini 2 launch in spring 2025 instead of fall 2024 cannot be completely ruled out.
And HomePod mini may indeed use the update sooner rather than later.
The AirPods Max 2 is rumored to be released in 2024 or 2025.
Released in November 2020 as an affordable ($99) alternative to the full-sized model ($249) that was discontinued a couple of months ago, the HomePod mini is based on the S5 chip that powers the Apple Watch Series 5.
It supports Thread and ultra-wide networking via the Apple U1 chip, two features not found on the first generation HomePod. HomePod mini includes some other features not found on the original full-size model, such as a humidity and temperature sensor and audio recognition support. Fortunately, the resurrected second generation HomePod supports the above features out of the box.
It’s unclear what new features HomePod mini 2 could bring – Kuo didn’t talk about what’s next for HomePod mini. However, the analyst claims that Apple will update other “acoustic products”by updating the AirPods Max 2 and new low-cost AirPods that will arrive around the same time as the next HomePod mini.