Apple it’s unlikely to release a new HomePod mini any time soon

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  • According to reporter Mark Gurman, who addressed the issue in the latest issue of his Power On newsletter, Apple is not currently working on a new version of the HomePod mini.

“At this time, I don’t believe Apple is actively working on such a product,” Gurman wrote. There aren’t any major new features in the latest HomePod that aren’t already in the $99 mini, so there’s no obvious reason to update the model. Sure, more colours, a lower price, and better sound and microphones would be nice, but the real improvements are likely to be made on the back end—with Siri and app integration.”

The claim is surprising given that, as Gurman mentioned, Apple released a second-generation version of the full-size HomePod last week. Most experts agree that the HomePod mini is a more successful product than its larger sibling, which was discontinued in 2021 due to poor sales; if Apple is willing to take a chance on one, it’s odd that it wouldn’t do the same for the other. The HomePod mini isn’t exactly new either. It has already been well over two years since its launch in November 2020.

Despite all commercial logic, the return of the full-size HomePod is thought to be part of Apple’s new strategy to prioritise the smart home, with multiple smart displays and an updated Apple TV reportedly on the way. In that context, it’s even odder that the company would choose to overlook its mini smart speaker, which is ideal for multi-room setups.

It’s also possible that an updated mini would outperform the new full-size model due to its lower price and improved portability. It makes sense for Apple to wait a few months so that the HomePod 2 has a chance to sell some units. We know from the AirPods that Apple is content to keep even the most profitable audio products unrefreshed for longer periods of time than its iPhones, Macs, and iPads.

However, unlike many of Gurman’s predictions, it appears that this one is based on his own deductions and a lack of “chatter” rather than insider sources. Gurman believes that the second-generation HomePod’s relative lack of functional upgrades means there’s no reason to update the smaller model: even the additions it did get, such as Thread support and an Ultra Wideband chip, were already in the mini. (The mini doesn’t currently have the new Sound Recognition feature on its specs sheet, but it’s unclear whether this could be added retroactively via a software update.)

However, after the new HomePod’s honeymoon period, Apple must surely be considering a second attempt at the mini. We may have to wait until 2024, but we wouldn’t be surprised if we didn’t see a second-generation mini at some point.

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