HomePod Mini 2 Launches Today: All the New Features

Today is HomePod mini 2 launch day, with the first pre-orders beginning to arrive to customers and the speaker now available to purchase at most Apple Store locations around the world. In the U.S., the HomePod mini 2 is priced at $149, with two-tone pink, green, and blue color options available alongside white and midnight.

Here is what is new with the HomePod mini 2:

• Siri AI support is coming in a future software update, with an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone or iPad required for requests involving your personal context.
• S10 chip, up from the S5 chip for the previous model. Apple said the S10 chip enables "advanced computational audio," but it did not explicitly confirm if the HomePod mini 2 has improved sound quality compared to the original model.
• Wi-Fi 6E support, up from Wi-Fi 4 for the previous model.
• Bluetooth 6 support, up from Bluetooth 5 for the previous model.
• Default audio output support on Macs with Wi-Fi 6E and later. The full-sized HomePod 2 also supports this capability with the latest software updates.
• Sound Glow: the top area glows and pulses in sync with the music playing. This feature has also been added to the original HomePod mini.
• Four-speaker surround sound with the new Apple TV 4K: connect four HomePod mini 2 and/or full-sized HomePod 2 speakers in front and rear pairs. A related Whole Room Audio feature is offered for parties.
• Three microphones for Siri, down from four in the previous model. It is unclear if users will notice this difference.
• Two-tone pink, green, and blue color options, along with white and midnight.
• 3% weight reduction. Huge.

The previous HomePod mini was initially $99, but it became $129 after a June price increase. As mentioned, the new model is $149.