Apple’s long-awaited HomePod mini 2 and next-generation Apple TV 4K could debut on Tuesday, with leaks and rumors pointing to significantly smarter Siri capabilities and a collection of internal hardware upgrades.
They’ll apparently be part of a renewed push by Apple into the smart home market.
Here’s what we know about these products before the announcement.
HomePod mini 2 and Apple TV 4K join Apple’s smart home refresh
Apple hasn’t previously ignored smart home products. The original HomePod mini is a surprisingly powerful smart speaker with Siri support that can act as a HomeKit hub. Previous Apple TV 4K models offer not just streaming video but also games and podcasts. And it can also act as a home hub.
But the wait for new versions of these products stretched on and on during Apple’s years-long struggle to develop an artificial intelligence-enabled version of the Siri voice assistant to build into the devices.
But the wait is — finally — almost over. Here’s what we can look forward to. According to leaks and rumors, anyway.
HomePod mini 2 gets a smarter Siri
The original HomePod mini debuted in October 2020 and has received little more than new color options over the intervening years. Its successor is expected to retain the compact, spherical design while upgrading the technology inside.
The biggest change is rumored to be support for Apple’s more capable Siri AI. If true, it will make the smart speaker considerably more useful. Instead of relying primarily on straightforward voice commands, users should be able to use more natural language, make requests that depend on personal context and manage smart-home devices through more sophisticated instructions.
The current model relies on Apple’s S5 chip, originally introduced in the Apple Watch Series 5 in 2019. Rumors point to a much newer Apple Watch processor, possibly the S10, giving the speaker more computing power for AI features and audio processing.
New colors are the most visible change reportedly in the offing. Pink and green have been mentioned, as have white, blue and midnight. However, the overall spherical enclosure, mesh covering and compact footprint are expected to remain the same.
Plus better audio and more
It’s a safe bet that the HomePod mini 2 will offer improved sound quality. The newer processor should help with computational audio. That said, there are no rumors that can provide detailed changes to the speaker drivers or other acoustic hardware.
In addition, the HomePod mini 2 is also rumored to adopt Apple’s N1 wireless networking chip. This supports Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6, potentially improving wireless performance and connectivity with other Apple devices. The original HomePod mini already supports Thread.
Another rumored upgrade is a second-generation Ultra Wideband chip. That could improve proximity-based features, including handing off music between an iPhone and the speaker.
Apple TV 4K also adopts Siri AI
Apple’s streaming box is also due for an internal upgrade. The current Apple TV 4K, introduced in 2022, uses the A15 Bionic chip. The 2026 iteration is expected to move to a newer processor, with unconfirmed reports pointing to an A19.
The faster processor and a rumored increase in memory should give the new Apple TV the resources needed for Siri AI and other Apple Intelligence features.
A more conversational Siri should make it easier to find shows and movies, ask follow-up questions and control connected smart-home accessories without having to phrase every request in a rigid way.
The new Apple TV is also rumored to include Apple’s N1 networking chip, bringing Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 support. Thread compatibility could further strengthen its role as a smart-home hub.
Despite the rumored hardware changes, the Apple TV 4K’s familiar black, low-profile enclosure is expected to remain unchanged.
2026 Apple TV 4K may get a better remote
An improved Siri Remote is another welcome possibility. The remote could gain a speaker to make it easier to locate when misplaced. That might imply the addition of Find My support, which would make locating a lost remote with an iPhone quick and easy.
And the new Apple TV 4K could include a built-in microphone, allowing people to speak to Siri without picking up the remote at all.
Rumored pricing and availability
Apple is expected to announce the HomePod mini 2 and Apple TV 4K on Tuesday, October 13, during its “Welcome home” product launch, alongside the HomeView smart home hub. Reports point to the products reaching customers on Friday, October 30, with preorders expected to open this week.
Pricing remains less certain. Apple recently raised the U.S. price of the HomePod mini from $99 to $129. The current Apple TV 4K now starts at $199 for the Wi-Fi model, while the Wi-Fi and Ethernet version starts at $249.
At this point, there are no reliable leaks revealing the launch prices of the replacements. Apple could retain those prices or adjust them to account for the upgraded processors, wireless hardware and memory.
Ed Hardy has been writing full-time about tech for 26 years, and using it for much longer than that. His intro to Apple was a Macintosh SE/30 (which he still has), but now he uses a 13-inch iPad Pro as his primary computer.
That’s because he’s a “tablet first” type of guy. Rather than use a Macbook, he connects a keyboard case to the iPad. And instead of a desktop Mac, he connects his tablet to a 27-inch display and full-size keyboard. (So don’t try to tell him that everyone has to use a Mac to be productive.)
Before coming to Cult of Mac, Ed wrote for NotebookReview, TabletPCReview and Brighthand, as well as other sites.
