HomePod Mini Turns Two as Apple Looks to Expand Lineup Next Year

The HomePod mini was released to customers two years ago this week, marking the first addition to the HomePod family since the original speaker launched in 2018. Two years after its release, the ‌HomePod‌ lineup has remained relatively stagnant, but that's set to change in 2023.

homepod mini color bars
When Apple announced the ‌HomePod mini‌ in October 2020, the original full-sized ‌HomePod‌ remained in the lineup. In March 2021, however, Apple discontinued the full-sized HomePod, saying it wanted to dedicate more time to the ‌HomePod mini‌. The ‌HomePod mini‌ addressed several of the biggest concerns from customers about the original ‌HomePod‌, including size and price. Unlike the original ‌HomePod‌, the ‌HomePod mini‌ costs $99 and comes in a wider variety of color options.

Now, as the ‌HomePod mini‌ turns two, we look to the future and what Apple has in store.

Resurrection of Full-Sized HomePod

HomePod Crash Feature
The biggest ‌HomePod‌ news we're expecting in the near future is a resurrection of the original full-sized ‌HomePod‌. When Apple discontinued the original ‌HomePod‌, many speculated the reason for the decision came down to the ‌HomePod‌'s $299 price tag and its lack of features, which led to lackluster sales.

For 2023, Apple is expected to launch an updated version of the full-sized ‌HomePod‌ it discontinued to fill the current gap in the ‌HomePod‌ lineup. The newer ‌HomePod‌ is rumored to feature the S8 chip from the Apple Watch Series 8, providing faster performance for Siri requests and different features.

Other features could include a larger multi-touch display at the top, but the overall form factor and design are expected to stay the same. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo expects the new ‌HomePod‌ to launch in the first quarter of next year.

An Updated HomePod mini

homepod mini five colors
According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple could update the ‌HomePod mini‌ in the near future, but specific details are unknown. The current ‌HomePod mini‌ is powered by the S5 chip, the same chip found in the Apple Watch Series 5 and the first-generation Apple Watch SE. In a hypothetical update, Apple could include a newer and faster chip, allowing for faster processing of ‌Siri‌ requests and features like Handoff.

Apple TV and HomePod Combo

AppleTV and HomePod Feature
A ‌HomePod‌ product that's still under early development is an Apple TV and ‌HomePod‌ combo, according to Bloomberg's ‌Mark Gurman‌. Gurman reports that Apple is developing a ‌HomePod‌ speaker that includes the functionality of the ‌Apple TV‌, offering an all-in-one TV entertainment system with a display. The product is also reported to have a camera, possibly allowing for FaceTime and video calls. No other details are known at this time as the product launch is likely a while away, assuming it launches at all.

What would you like to see in a future ‌HomePod‌ product? Let us know in the comments below.

Related Roundups: HomePod, HomePod mini

Popular Stories

AirPods Pro 3 Mock Feature

AirPods Pro 3 Just Months Away – Here's What We Know

Friday April 18, 2025 5:16 am PDT by
Despite being more than two years old, Apple's AirPods Pro 2 still dominate the premium wireless‑earbud space, thanks to a potent mix of top‑tier audio, class‑leading noise cancellation, and Apple's habit of delivering major new features through software updates. With AirPods Pro 3 widely expected to arrive in 2025, prospective buyers now face a familiar dilemma: snap up the proven...
CarPlay Hero

Apple Releases Wireless CarPlay Fix

Wednesday April 16, 2025 11:28 am PDT by
If you have been experiencing issues with wireless CarPlay in your vehicle lately, it was likely due to a software bug that has now been fixed. Apple released iOS 18.4.1 today, and the update's release notes say it "addresses a rare issue that prevents wireless CarPlay connection in certain vehicles." If wireless CarPlay was acting up for you, updating your iPhone to iOS 18.4.1 should...
iphone 16 pro models 1

17 Reasons to Wait for the iPhone 17

Thursday April 17, 2025 4:12 am PDT by
Apple's iPhone development roadmap runs several years into the future and the company is continually working with suppliers on several successive iPhone models simultaneously, which is why we often get rumored features months ahead of launch. The iPhone 17 series is no different, and we already have a good idea of what to expect from Apple's 2025 smartphone lineup. If you skipped the iPhone...
Beyond iPhone 13 Better Triad

Apple's 20th Anniversary iPhone May Finally Go All Screen

Tuesday April 15, 2025 6:31 am PDT by
Apple is preparing a "bold" new iPhone Pro model for the iPhone's 20th anniversary in 2027, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. As part of what's being described as a "major shake-up," Apple is said to be developing a design that makes more extensive use of glass – and this could point directly to the display itself. Here's the case for Apple releasing a truly all-screen iPhone with no...
maxresdefault

iPhone 17 Pro Launching Later This Year With These 12 New Features

Sunday April 13, 2025 7:52 am PDT by
While the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are not expected to launch until September, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models as of April 2025: Aluminum frame: iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to have an aluminum frame, whereas the iPhone 15 Pro and ...
iOS 19 Roundup Feature

iOS 19 Will Add These New Features to Your iPhone

Tuesday April 15, 2025 7:37 am PDT by
The first iOS 19 beta is less than two months away, and there are already a handful of new features that are expected with the update. Apple should release the first iOS 19 beta to developers immediately following the WWDC 2025 keynote, which is scheduled for Monday, June 9. Following beta testing, the update should be released to the general public in September. Below, we recap the key...
tvOS 18 Thumb 1

Apple Releases tvOS 18.4.1

Wednesday April 16, 2025 10:04 am PDT by
Apple today released tvOS 18.4.1, a minor update to the tvOS 18 operating system that came out last September. tvOS 18.4.1 comes two weeks after Apple released tvOS 18.4, and it is available for the Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD models. tvOS 18.4.1 can be downloaded using the Settings app on the ‌Apple TV‌. Open up Settings and go to System > Software Update to get the new software....
top stories 2025 04 19

Top Stories: iPhone 17 Pro Rumors, CarPlay Bug Fix, and More

Saturday April 19, 2025 6:00 am PDT by
This week saw rumor updates on the iPhone 17 Pro and next-generation Vision Pro, while a minor iOS 18.4.1 update delivered not just security fixes but also a fix for some CarPlay issues. We also looked ahead at what else is in Apple's pipeline for the rest of 2025 and even the 20th-anniversary iPhone coming in 2027, so read on below for all the details on these stories and more! iPhone 17 ...
Apple TV Plus Feature 2 Magenta and Blue

Apple TV+ Available at Significantly Lower Price Until Next Week

Friday April 18, 2025 11:42 am PDT by
Apple TV+ is currently available at a much lower price than usual, but time is running out if you want to take advantage of the offer. In the U.S., new and qualified returning customers can subscribe to Apple TV+ for just $2.99 per month, for three months. Afterwards, regular pricing of $9.99 per month applies. The offer is available in the Apple TV app, and at tv.apple.com, through April...

Top Rated Comments

adammusic Avatar
32 months ago
GIVE US AN ALTERNATIVE WAKE WORD BESIDES SIRI SO IT CAN DISTINGUISH BETWEEN HOMEPOD AND CELL PHONE.
SO MY BROTHERS HOMEPOD DOESNT ACTIVATE WHEN IM TALKING TO MY PHONE 4 ROOMS OVER.
sorry for caps.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
aParkerMusic Avatar
32 months ago

The chink in the chain is Siri, if they don't expand Siri to be on par with Alexa then it will always be a very limited smart speaker. I am sure they sound great, but all the smart speakers sound good now and really only the picky audiophiles are going to really appreciate the moderately better speakers. Not sure why Apple would be looking to expand when they have been going the opposite direction. Do they discontinue a MacBook or iMac before they come out with a new one?
“All” the “smart speakers” do not sound good. Many of them sound like trash compared to the original HomePod (and a stereo pair of the HomePod minis)

I am still trying to figure out what exactly people want Siri to do that it doesn’t already.

I love how we were all supposed to be impressed that you could “go shopping” on the Amazon Echo. It was a terrible limited experience, but people felt it was beyond Siri’s capabilities so it was cool.

I need an AI assistant for simple things; weather, turn on/off lights, set a timer, etc. Siri does all of this for me. I would like it to be more reliable, but the issue is not in the core functionality.

So, I guess I’m asking why people hate Siri so much.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Boidem Avatar
32 months ago

all the smart speakers sound good now and really only the picky audiophiles are going to really appreciate the moderately better speakers
I've heard quite a few popular smart speakers, from Sonos to B+W etc, and for the money, nothing beat the original Homepod. Sonos in particular is a very overrated brand imo. Sound quality is important; at this sort of price point, many alternatives are dreadful. Apple had a winning product there. The prices of used Homepods are testament to their actual popularity.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
vegetassj4 Avatar
32 months ago
I’m waiting on the rumored Homepod Ultra with the 18” subwoofer.




Attachment Image
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
EvilEvil Avatar
32 months ago
Apple really needs to make wireless versions of these speakers that you can charge on a MagSafe charger.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Dandoodle Avatar
32 months ago
I have 4 original HomePods, and 2 minis in our house, they're great but as everyone has said Siri is the let down especially when it comes to HomeKit. When you ask a simple question it directs me back to my phone, totally pointless.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)