Apple to unveil HomePod Mini 2 and smart home hub

Summarised from 2 outlets · 4 reports · Updated 11 Oct, 14:13 · Archive

Apple will announce a new HomePod Mini and a dedicated smart home hub with a 6-inch touchscreen on 13 October.

Apple will unveil a second-generation HomePod Mini and a dedicated smart home hub as part of a 'Welcome home' event in New York on Tuesday, 13 October, with announcements expected around 9 a.m. Eastern Time. Hands-on photos and videos are expected to follow.

The HomePod Mini will feature Apple's N1 chip with Wi-Fi 7 support, a second-generation Ultra Wideband chip, and improved sound quality. The device will support Siri AI, at least with a nearby iPhone. New colour options including pink and green are expected, though no major design changes are anticipated. The current HomePod Mini was released in October 2020.

The new smart home hub will have a 6-inch square display and will run new software potentially named 'homeOS'. It will support Siri AI with conversation history, manage smart home accessories, home security monitoring, digital photo galleries, calendar appointments, music playback and FaceTime video calls. The device will have multi-user support and will be available in both tabletop and wall-mounted versions. Preinstalled apps will include Calendar, Camera, Apple Music, Apple Podcasts, Apple News, Reminders and Notes, though third-party apps are not expected at launch.

Apple may also announce partnerships with home security company ADT and electronics manufacturers including LG. The Verge reports that Apple TV is also expected to receive a refresh.

How it is being reported

• What to expect from Apple’s ‘Welcome Home’ eventWe are quickly coming up on Apple's "Welcome Home" launch event, where we expect a host of smart home-related announcements. We are expecting refreshes to Apple TV and HomePod Mini, as well as a brand new smart home hub. We could also see the debut of a new platform called homeOS, and some partner devices […]The Verge · 11 Oct, 14:00
• Rumor: Apple to Announce New Partnership With ADTApple may be planning to announce a new partnership with home security company ADT, alongside the introduction of its all-new smart home hub , according to several clues. Apple has invited the media to a "Welcome home" experience in New York on Tuesday, October 13 , so the partnership could be made official on that day. Since around July, ADT has posted "Low Voltage Technician" job listings in various U.S. cities, but those hired for the position so far have been provided with very few details about their specific responsibilities. In recent months, some of these people said they have…MacRumors · 11 Oct, 03:17
• Apple's All-New Home Hub Will Be Revealed October 13: What to ExpectApple reportedly plans to unveil an all-new smart home hub as part of the "Welcome home" product launch it announced for Tuesday, October 13. Our image above is just a rough concept based on rumored design details, so be prepared for the device's actual appearance to be different. The device will likely be unveiled in a press release shared on the Apple Newsroom website at around 9 a.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday, as that is when Apple's private "Welcome home" experience in New York begins. At the experience, invited reporters and content creators will likely receive hands-on time with the home…MacRumors · 10 Oct, 14:58
• Apple Announcing HomePod Mini 2 Next Week With These New FeaturesApple reportedly plans to unveil a new HomePod mini as part of the "Welcome home" experience it announced for Tuesday, October 13. We expect the new HomePod mini to be announced in a press release shared on the Apple Newsroom website at around 9 a.m. Eastern Time on that day, and hands-on photos and videos should surface shortly afterwards. The second-generation HomePod mini is rumored to feature a newer chip that enables Siri AI support (at least with a nearby iPhone), along with improved sound quality, Apple's N1 chip with Wi-Fi 7 support, a second-generation Ultra Wideband chip, and new…MacRumors · 10 Oct, 14:55

In this story: Apple · HomePod Mini · ADT · LG · New York

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem