Apple HomePod Mini 2: Same Look but So Much Siri AI
The new Apple smart speaker, announced Tuesday, promises unique Siri interactions.
Apple unveiled its latest smart speaker, the HomePod Mini 2, at a "Welcome Home" event, filling the gap left by Amazon's Echo Studio and Google's Home Speaker upgrades. The compact device, measuring approximately 4 inches in diameter, will be powered by Apple's S10 chip, which reportedly optimizes music in real-time. Apple hints at future updates introducing an array of Siri AI features, promising to make the speaker more interesting.
The HomePod Mini 2 is available for preorder starting at $149 and comes in five new colors, including green and blue. It will be available in stores on October 30. Despite being a minor upgrade, this model costs nearly $50 more than the previous HomePod Mini.
Apple's Siri AI on the HomePod Mini 2 will allow users to tailor their interactions with the speaker to their preferences and habits. By analyzing iPhone usage, Siri AI can answer commands more effectively. For example, it can play a song based on a past text message from a friend or add ingredients to a shopping list from a recipe sent via email. The latest Siri AI conversational features will also be available, potentially similar to Google's Gemini for Home, though at a possible cost of up to $20 per month.
Additional features include the ability to hold a conversation outside of the HomePod Mini 2 using the Home app on an iPhone, as well as a fire alarm detection feature that alerts users when they are not at home. However, the audio performance of the HomePod Mini 2 is not immediately clear, as it uses a full-range driver and dual passive radiators similar to the first-gen HomePod Mini. It supports Apple Music, TuneIn, iHeartRadio, and Audacy, but does not mention support for popular apps like Tidal and Spotify.
Written by urgent.news from CNET's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
