Apple today announced a new HomePod mini equipped with Siri AI, new colors, and improved audio experiences. The new HomePod mini has an S10 chip that supports advanced computational audio, and Apple says it optimizes dynamic range, loudness, and acoustic performance in real-time.
A Sound Glow feature turns the HomePod mini's top into a "visual canvas" that glows and animates in sync with music, reacting to bass and treble. It uses colors generated from the song's album artwork for a unique experience for each song.
Four HomePod minis can be paired together to create a four-speaker surround sound with the latest Apple TV 4K, which Apple also announced today. The speakers and the Apple TV are able to recognize their position in the room and levels are calibrated to the space. The HomePod mini also works as a speaker for the Mac.
Siri AI will be available in a future software update, and will work when the HomePod mini is paired with an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone or iPad. It will be able to recognize up to six users by voice and connect to their device for personalized information like Messages.
As with the prior version of the HomePod mini, the new model is able to serve as a home hub and control smart home devices. It supports Sound Recognition and can listen for smoke or carbon monoxide alarms, sending an alert if one is detected.
The HomePod mini 2 comes in pink, green, blue, white, and midnight and will launch on October 30. It's priced at $149 and pre-orders open now.
