Apple might have silently discontinued the original HomePod mini. The tiny smart speaker is out of stock across several U.S. retailers, fueling speculation that a new model might be coming soon.
HomePod mini 2 to debut soon?
Apple launched the HomePod mini on November 16, 2020. As its fifth anniversary approaches, the company appears to have quietly discontinued it while preparing for its successor.
Some rumors suggested the HomePod mini 2 could go official alongside the iPhone 17 series at Apple’s “Awe Dropping event. While that didn’t happen, the rumor mill thinks the speaker could drop this year itself — ahead of the important holiday shopping season.
MacRumors spotted a B&H listing the HomePod mini as “No longer available.” While this could have been an error on B&H’s part, other retailers like Adorama, Target and Walmart also show limited or no stock of the HomePod mini. (Apple’s own store still lists the speaker for next-day delivery or pickup across most ZIP codes, though.)
The lack of inventory indicates that a HomePod mini 2 refresh might just be around the corner. It could go official as soon as this week.
HomePod mini 2 could fail to impress without smarter Siri
The rumor mill hasn’t revealed much about the HomePod mini 2. But it’s safe to assume it will come with audio upgrades. Apple might even equip the speaker with its in-house N1 wireless chip for Wi-Fi 7 and Thread support.
A faster chip is also a given, especially since the current HomePod mini uses an ancient S5 SoC from 2019.
Don’t expect the HomePod mini 2 to bring a radically smarter experience, though. That won’t happen until iOS 26.4, which should bring the new AI-powered Siri early next year.
It would be odd for Apple to launch the HomePod mini 2 without smarter Siri out of the box, since the AI assistant forms an integral part of the experience.
Despite all the upgrades, the HomePod mini 2 should retain the same $99 price as the current model.
Rajesh has been closely following and writing about the latest happenings in the world of mobile for nearly a decade now. While he prefers Android, he does not deny the superiority of Apple’s products and ecosystem.
