Apple has finally updated its smallest smart speaker after six years on store shelves, announcing the HomePod mini 2 for $149. Pre-orders open today in the United States, with retail store availability scheduled to begin on October 30.
Externally, anyone looking at the HomePod mini 2 will recognise the familiar spherical silhouette of the 2020 original. Apple kept the fabric-wrapped enclosure intact rather than overhauling the footprint. The differences show up once audio starts playing or when you pick a finish off the shelf.
The most visible hardware change sits directly on top. Apple calls it "Sound Glow," an illuminated surface that acts as a real-time visualizer for whatever is playing. Rather than displaying a static orb when Siri talks, the panel pulses along with bass and treble frequencies in real time, shifting its hues to match the colors of the current album artwork.
Apple has also expanded the palette with two fresh shades: pink and green. Those join whatever carryover finishes Apple chooses to keep alongside them.
On the audio integration side, Apple is leaning harder into living-room home theater setups. The HomePod mini 2 introduces support for a four-speaker surround configuration when linked to an Apple TV 4K. Earlier setups capped users at stereo pairs. That adjustment gives buyers the option to scatter four small units around a sitting area instead of buying a larger full-size soundbar or a pair of standard HomePods.
Shaking up the $150 tier
That $149 price tag positions the HomePod mini 2 well above budget pucks from rival platforms, though Apple clearly wants it judged against standalone ambient speakers rather than cheap voice assistants. Six years is an eternity in consumer audio hardware, especially for a product that serves as an essential smart home hub.
Apple has not yet detailed international pricing or launch schedules outside the US market, including India. For buyers holding onto original units, the choice between keeping existing speakers or upgrading will come down to whether reactive lighting and multi-speaker Apple TV 4K playback justify paying $149 a pop.
Those pre-orders are live now on Apple's online storefront, with in-store deliveries starting October 30.
HTFiled by The Home Tech Desk
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