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HomePod mini 2 vs HomePod mini: Here’s everything new
Apple unveiled HomePod mini 2 yesterday (pre-order here), exactly six years after the first HomePod mini debuted. Here’s everything new in HomePod mini 2 compared to the original model.
HomePod mini 2 is getting Siri AI support, bringing similar capabilities found in iOS 27 to Siri on your HomePod. This includes broad world knowledge, the ability to have rich, natural conversations, and music discovery upgrades. Additionally, personal context support means you can ask about a song you were recommended by a friend via Messages, get key information stored in your email, and more.
The original HomePod mini will not support Siri AI, leaving it stuck on the old Siri
Siri AI won’t be available right when HomePod mini 2 ships, but it’s expected to arrive as a software update next month.
Additionally, while it’s unclear if performance will be impacted, HomePod mini 2 has three far-field microphones for interacting with Siri, down from the four offered in HomePod mini.
The original HomePod mini has a very dated S5 chip, which is unsurprising since it’s a 6-year-old device. But the new HomePod mini 2 runs a much more modern S10 chip.
S10 is the main reason HomePod mini 2 supports Siri AI while the original model doesn’t. Beyond that though, Apple doesn’t offer specific details on performance improvements to expect. However, it’s possible the audio experience will be upgraded. Per Apple’s press release:
Powered by the Apple S10 chip and advanced computational audio, [HomePod mini 2] analyzes music in real time to optimize dynamic range, loudness, and acoustic performance.
Apple doesn’t explicitly say that the computational audio will be an improvement over what the previous model offered, but it’s certainly possible. We’ll have to wait for reviews to know for sure.
Sound Glow is a new feature that makes the top of HomePod mini 2 come to life in response to the music it’s playing. Per Apple: