Apple has launched the HomePod mini 2 at $149 in the US and Rs 12,990 in India — a $20 jump over the current $129 model, and $50 more than the original $99 launch price. Pre-orders open today. Units ship Friday, October 30. The new speaker lands alongside Apple Intelligence’s broader rollout, but Siri AI features won’t arrive until a later software update, and only when paired with an Apple Intelligence–enabled iPhone or iPad. No timeline was given for that update. It replaces a device that hasn’t changed since 2020. Same size, same shape, same basic acoustic architecture. But under the hood: the S10 chip (up from S5), Wi-Fi 6E (from Wi-Fi 4), Bluetooth 6 (from Bluetooth 5), and a new ‘Sound Glow’ light ring that pulses with music. It also supports default audio output on Macs with Wi-Fi 6E or later, a first for the mini line. Four HomePod mini 2 units can now be grouped as front/rear pairs for surround sound with the new Apple TV 4K. Microphones drop from four to three. Weight falls by 3%. Two new colors. Green and pink, join white and midnight. The $149 price puts it $20 above the current HomePod mini, and $70 below the full-size HomePod 2. Which starts at $229. In India, Rs 12,990 is Rs 1,000 more than the current model’s Rs 11,990. That gap widens further against third-party alternatives: the Amazon Echo Dot (6th gen) sells for $49.99. Google Nest Mini (2nd gen) remains at $49. Siri AI support remains the headline promise, but it’s deferred, conditional, and incomplete without compatible hardware. You’ll need both the HomePod mini 2 and an Apple Intelligence–capable iPhone or iPad to access personal-context requests. No word yet on whether older HomePod minis will gain any of the new firmware features. Or if the S10 chip’s presence hints at future computational audio upgrades. Apple says the HomePod mini 2 ships October 30.