HomePod mini 2: Rumors & release date

• Rumored release: Spring 2026
• Possible changes: New red color, major processor upgrade, improved connectivity

Apple introduced the original HomePod mini in November 2020, making it long overdue for an update.

In a January 2025 report, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman suggested that a new HomePod mini could arrive toward the end of 2025. He later reiterated this expectation in an August 2025 newsletter, referencing Apple code that briefly appeared, and was then withdrawn, which included identifiers for unreleased devices, reportedly including a new HomePod mini. Gurman wrote: “The findings corroborate a lot of what I’ve reported, including that fresh Apple TV and HomePod mini models will arrive this fall.”

As of now, however, no new HomePod mini has launched. Current rumors point to a 2026 release instead, with delays attributed to ongoing software development challenges related to Siri and Apple Intelligence.

Foundry

HomePod mini 2: Design, features & specs

In September 2025, Gurman reported that Apple had tested a new red color option for the HomePod mini 2. Beyond cosmetic changes, the update is expected to focus primarily on internal improvements.

The overall design is likely to remain largely unchanged, but the internal hardware is expected to receive a meaningful refresh. The HomePod mini has not seen a hardware update since its debut, and Apple is reportedly keen to modernize it to support upcoming software features.

The most consistent rumors point to a faster processor and improved connectivity. As Gurman noted in August 2025: “We don’t know what, if anything, will be new with the speaker other than a faster chip, though Apple will likely keep the same design.”

Additional rumored upgrades include:

• Apple Intelligence Support: The new model is expected to feature a chip capable of supporting Apple Intelligence, which would allow it to benefit from Apple’s upcoming AI-enhanced Siri.
• Improved Connectivity: Possible inclusion of Apple’s in-house N1 networking chip, potential Wi-Fi 6E support, and an upgraded U2 Ultra Wideband (UWB) chip for more seamless Handoff functionality.
• Audio Enhancements: Some reports indicate the speaker could receive upgraded drivers for better sound quality and potentially official support for spatial audio/Dolby Atmos, a feature currently restricted to the full-sized HomePod. See: Five upgrades the HomePod mini needs.
• Hardware Refinements: There is also speculation that Apple might introduce a removable power cable, similar to the 2nd-gen HomePod, to improve repairability.

HomePod 3 with screen: Rumors & release date

• Possible launch: Spring 2026
• Display size: Between 6 and 7-inches
• Software: Custom touchscreen operating system

The HomePod mini has a larger sibling and even bigger things are rumored for that model.

Foundry and Apple

One of the HomePod’s biggest limitations is its reliance on Siri, which still struggles with complex commands. Many users end up controlling the speaker via their iPhone instead, which can be inconvenient and drain battery life. A built-in screen could provide a more direct and reliable way to interact with the device.

According to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple has been working redesigning the HomePod to include a display for some time. In March 2023, Kuo claimed Apple would “unveil a redesigned HomePod featuring a 7-inch panel.”

That would put it not far off the 8.3-inch iPad mini, and would allow the HomePod to compete more directly with devices like the Amazon Echo Show and Google Nest Hub. The screen would reportedly support multitouch and enable richer interactions.

Kuo initially expected this product to arrive in the first half of 2024, but that timeline slipped. In December 2024, he reported further delays, pushing the launch to after WWDC 2025, citing software development challenges. In March 2025, Kuo suggested the device had been delayed again, partly due to Apple Intelligence setbacks and the need to align the launch with other new Apple products.

Current speculation suggests a possible release in the first half of 2026, potentially around March or April, alongside major updates to Siri and Apple’s AI platform.

Foundry

HomePod with screen: Design, features & specs

Unlike current HomePods, which rely on a small LED surface for controls and animations, this model is expected to feature a full display capable of showing useful information and acting as a touchscreen control interface. As noted in Odd iOS 26 phrasing hints at new HomePod with screen, the wording in recent software suggests Apple is planning a HomePod “with a proper screen” that could compensate for Siri’s current limitations.

As with the HomePod mini 2, the display-equipped HomePod is expected to feature a chip capable of supporting the AI-enhanced Siri, but it will also need to support a custom touchscreen operating system, possibly derived from tvOS. Given the demands of such a touchscreen interface and advanced software, this would likely mean A-series or even M-series silicon, possibly an A17 Pro.

Other expected features include:

• Specs: Apple’s N1 networking chip, Wi-Fi 6E support, and an upgraded U2 Ultra Wideband chip for improved device handoff.
• Modular design: Some rumors point to a modular design, where a screen-based hub could magnetically dock onto a full-size HomePod speaker. This could allow the device to function as a stationary high-fidelity speaker while also supporting FaceTime calls and smart home management.
• Display: The display is widely rumored to measure around 7-inches, putting it in direct competition with smart displays from Amazon and Google.

Ben Patterson/Foundry

Some time ago Swiss website Handy Abovergleich and designer Eric Huismann created a series of concept illustrations of how this new generation of HomePod could look. Here’s how they imagine the HomePod Show—a speaker with a camera and a small touchscreen—could look.

Foundry

However, this updated HomePod could offer a lot more than a screen to tap when you want to choose a playlist or skip a track. There are rumors that suggest putting a screen on HomePod could transform it into a new device entirely.

HomePad smart hub rumors & release date

• Possible launch: Late 2026
• Strategy: Brand new category of products

Apple has reportedly been exploring a broader smart home strategy for years, and the HomePad could be its most ambitious step yet.

As far back as April 2021, Mark Gurman described a high-end device combining a HomePod speaker, a touchscreen, and a camera mounted on a robotic arm that could follow the user around the room during video calls. Gurman has made various references to this over the years.

Reports suggest Apple may be planning multiple smart home hub products, potentially split into two tiers:

• Low-end smart display (J490): A stationary device with an approximately 7-inch screen, designed for wall mounting or docking. It would focus on HomeKit control and FaceTime calls.
• High-end robotic hub (J595): A more advanced version featuring a display mounted on a robotic arm. This “Luxo Jr.-like” device could function as a videoconferencing system and home security tool, though it may not arrive until late 2026 or even 2027.

A revamped, AI-powered Siri is expected to be central to the experience – and its ongoing development is widely believed to be the main reason these products have yet to launch.

Imagen 3 (Gemini)

HomePad smart hub: Design, features & specs

Speculation regarding the HomePad’s internal specifications and software capabilities includes:

• Processing Power: Internal code suggests the device, codenamed J490, may be powered by the A18 chip, which is capable of supporting advanced Apple Intelligence features.
• Operating System: The hub will likely run a version of TVos that incorporates iOS-like features. For instance, the inclusion of the “ChatKit” framework in recent software betas suggests the HomePad may support iMessage and texting, features not currently available on Apple TV or standard HomePods.
• Kitchen Integration: A new “CookingKit” framework and expanded food sections in Apple News indicate that kitchen assistance, such as searching for recipes by ingredient, could be a primary selling point.
• Entertainment: Beyond home control, the device is expected to function as an entertainment hub for streaming music and video, as well as making FaceTime calls via a built-in camera.
• Advanced Home Control: Code found in the iOS 26 Home app describes an “Adaptive Temperature” feature, which could allow the HomePad to offer more granular control over smart thermostats, including energy-saving optimizations based on local electricity rates.
• Camera: There are suggestions that the device could combines a HomePod with a camera, or place a camera on a robot arm. This camera could also be used to recognize gestures. Some years ago a patent was filed that related to a future HomePod that could interpret 3D hand gestures. That patent describes a HomePod that can “interpret three-dimensional hand gestures as a means of controlling the device so as to execute an action or function.”

New HomePod prices

The current prices for the HomePods are as follows:

• HomePod: $299/£299
• HomePod mini: $99/£99

We don’t expect prices to change for the existing configurations. The HomePod mini is likely to remain at the sub-$100 price point.

However, a HomePod with a built-in screen could command a higher price. It may launch as a separate product altogether, potentially starting around $399 / £399, or higher, depending on features.