Apple Reportedly Launching New HomePod Mini Soon - S9 Chip and Wi-Fi 6E Support Tipped

Apple is reportedly launching a new HomePod Mini soon, featuring several upgrades over its predecessor. The upcoming smart speaker is expected to include a new chip for advanced computational audio. Here's what to expect.

HomePod Mini 2 Reportedly on the Way

According to a report by MacRumors, the upcoming second-generation HomePod Mini will feature a more modern chip for more advanced computational audio and improved responsiveness.

HomePod Mini 2: What to Expect?

The current HomePod Mini, launched in 2020, is powered by the S5 chip from the Apple Watch Series 5. However, Apple is now expected to upgrade it to the S9 chip for better performance and efficiency.

The S5 chip in the current HomePod Mini is based on Apple's A12 Bionic architecture, optimized for low-power tasks like Siri processing and real-time audio tuning. In comparison, the report suggsts both the S9 and S10 chips, built on the A13 architecture, deliver higher CPU and GPU performance, a more advanced Neural Engine, and greater efficiency per watt.

In addition, the new HomePod Mini will feature Apple's N1 chip for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, supporting Wi-Fi 6E. This upgrade will offer faster speeds, lower latency, and reduced interference compared to the current model's Wi-Fi 4.

Moreover, the report stated that Apple could also bring its second-generation Ultra Wideband chip to the ‌HomePod Mini‌ for a more reliable and lower-latency Handoff experience, which was launched with the iPhone 15 lineup. The 2nd generation will also get new colour variants.

Recently, Apple retailer B&H has listed all HomePod mini models as discontinued, with other retailers showing them out of stock. Given that, we expect the launch could take place soon. However, the report doesn't mention anything regarding the launch timeline.

Via