Apple refreshes HomePod mini with S10 and Siri AI

Apple raised the HomePod mini price to $149, added an S10 chip and Sound Glow, and said Siri AI features will come later in a future update.

Apple used its smart home event on Tuesday to do more than unveil the new HomeView device. The company also refreshed the HomePod mini, giving the compact speaker a new chip, a higher price, and a promised Siri AI upgrade that is still on the way. The move shows Apple is still putting attention on a product that first appeared more than six years ago. It also leaves a key question unresolved: when buyers will actually get the new Siri features.

HomePod mini gets an S10 chip and a higher price

The new HomePod mini costs $149, or $50 more than the original model launched in 2020. Apple says the speaker now uses an S10 chip, which helps improve dynamic range, loudness, and acoustic performance.

So this is not just a cosmetic update. Apple is pitching the device as a stronger speaker for music and home use, even if it stopped short of presenting it as a major redesign.

For buyers, the price increase may stand out as much as the hardware changes. The new model arrives at a noticeably different price point from the original version, which could shape whether people see it as a routine refresh or a more premium step up.

Apple promises Siri AI later, without a release date

One of the most eye-catching parts of Apple’s announcement was its promise of Siri AI support. Apple said the new HomePod mini will eventually support multi-turn conversations, allowing users to interact with Siri in a more natural back-and-forth exchange.

Apple did not say when that feature will be available. Instead, the company said it will arrive in a future update, leaving early buyers to wait for the software to catch up with the new hardware.

That distinction matters. The HomePod mini is going on sale now, but one of its headline features is still pending. According to IT-PUB News, that leaves consumers in a familiar position with smart devices: they can buy the hardware immediately, while some of the most notable functions remain promised for later.

Smart home controls and sound alerts remain a core part

Apple said the new HomePod mini can still control smart home devices through voice commands. It can also listen for sounds such as a smoke alarm and send a notification to a user’s phone.

That alert feature is not new to the category. Apple noted that Alexa devices have offered similar sound detection for years, putting the HomePod mini in a competitive space where basic smart-home convenience is now expected, not unusual.

Even so, those features help explain why the device still matters. For many households, a smart speaker is not just for music. It can also serve as a voice-controlled hub and an extra layer of awareness when something unusual happens at home.

Apple deepens the speaker's role in its ecosystem

Apple also said the refreshed HomePod mini works better with its other devices. One example the company gave was the ability to build a four-speaker home entertainment system with the new Apple TV 4K.

The speaker can also be set as the default speaker for a Mac, replacing built-in speakers for video calls or music playback. That makes the HomePod mini more than a standalone accessory. It becomes another part of Apple’s broader device ecosystem, where the appeal of one product often depends on how smoothly it works with the rest.

For people already invested in Apple hardware, that integration could be one of the strongest reasons to consider the new model. For everyone else, it underlines that the HomePod mini is aimed primarily at users who already own multiple Apple devices.

Sound Glow adds a visual element to playback

Apple also introduced a new visual feature called “Sound Glow.” The top of the HomePod mini can now work like a lighted canvas, using the color scheme of album art to glow and pulse in sync with music.

Apple says the feature is meant to make the speaker feel more expressive during playback, not just functional. Users can also choose soundscapes such as rain or ocean waves, which trigger animations on the device.

It is a small addition, but a notable one. Apple is nudging the HomePod mini further toward the role of a lifestyle gadget. It is still a speaker first, though the company is also trying to make it feel more personal and more visually tied to what is playing.

Preorders open now ahead of October 30 sales

The new HomePod mini comes in pink, green, blue, white, and midnight. Apple said consumers can preorder the device starting today, and it will be available from October 30.

The timing suggests Apple wants the refreshed speaker to land alongside its broader smart home push, even as some of its AI plans remain unfinished. The result is a product that offers immediate hardware upgrades while asking buyers to wait for one of the most talked-about software features.