HomePod mini 2: should I buy it now, or wait for Siri AI?
Quick answer
Apple’s HomePod mini 2 went on sale Friday, Oct 30, 2026 for $149 in white, midnight, pink, green and blue (Apple Newsroom). The big selling point, Siri AI, isn’t on it yet: Apple says it comes “via a future software update” and hasn’t given a date (Apple Newsroom; MacRumors). Buy now if you need a speaker or home hub today, or you want surround sound with the new Apple TV 4K. If you’re buying it for the smarter Siri, there’s no rush: wait until the update actually ships.
The facts
- Price: $149 in the U.S. (Apple Store). The original HomePod mini launched at $99 and went to $129 in Apple’s June 25 price increase (MacRumors).
- Colors: white, midnight, pink, green and blue (Apple Store).
- On sale: pre-orders opened Oct 13; in stores from Friday, Oct 30, in the U.S. and more than 23 other countries and regions (Apple Newsroom).
- Software: requires HomePod software 27.2 (same source), and an iPhone or iPad on the latest iOS or iPadOS to set up (Apple specs).
What’s new
- S10 chip with “advanced computational audio” (Apple Newsroom), up from the S5 in the original (MacRumors). Apple didn’t say outright that it sounds better than the first model (same MacRumors story). The speaker hardware is the same recipe: a full-range driver and dual passive radiators (Apple specs).
- Four-speaker surround with the new Apple TV 4K (4th generation). It takes four HomePod mini 2 or HomePod (2nd generation) speakers in matching front and rear pairs (Apple Newsroom).
- Mac speaker: it can be the default speaker for any Mac with Wi-Fi 6E or later (same source).
- Sound Glow: the top lights up and pulses with the music, color-matched to the album art (same source). MacRumors reports the original HomePod mini is getting Sound Glow too (MacRumors).
- Faster wireless: Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 6 (Apple specs), up from Wi-Fi 4 and Bluetooth 5 on the original (MacRumors).
- One step back: three microphones for Siri (Apple specs), down from four on the original (MacRumors). It’s not clear yet whether anyone will notice.
- Kept: smoke and CO alarm Sound Recognition, temperature and humidity sensors, Thread, and smart-home hub duty (Apple specs).
What’s missing at launch
- Siri AI. Apple says it will be “available later as a free software update,” in English, in the U.S., Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa and the UK. No date (Apple Newsroom).
- The fine print when it arrives: the owner of the home in the Home app needs an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone or iPad with Siri AI on. Personal requests (your messages, calendar) need one too. Apple also says some server-side features have daily usage limits, with expanded access “available for a fee in the future” (same source, footnote 1).
- Apple Home Collection doorbells and cameras it works with start arriving in December, with some in early 2027 (same source, footnote 8).
Should I buy it now?
Buy now if:
- You need a small speaker or a Home hub today. Everything except Siri AI works out of the box.
- You’re getting the new Apple TV 4K and want four-speaker surround. Original HomePod minis don’t count toward it (Apple).
- You want a better Mac desk speaker and your Mac has Wi-Fi 6E.
Wait if:
- Siri AI is the reason you’re buying. You’d be paying $149 for a promise, and Apple hasn’t said when it lands.
- Nobody in your house has an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone or iPad. The home owner needs one to turn Siri AI on.
- You already own original minis and they’re fine. Siri AI is not coming to the original HomePod mini, Apple confirmed to 9to5Mac, but you lose nothing today by waiting.
Dad tip: stereo pairs need two of the same model and generation (Apple), so a new mini 2 can’t pair with your old mini. Budget for two if stereo is the plan.
If you buy and change your mind: Apple’s standard U.S. policy gives you 14 calendar days from the day you receive it to return an item bought from Apple. Bought from another store? Their return policy applies (Apple).
FAQ
- How much is the HomePod mini 2? $149 in the U.S. (Apple Store).
- Does it have the new Siri? Not yet. Siri AI arrives in a future free software update, date not announced.
- Will my original HomePod mini get Siri AI? No. Apple told 9to5Mac it’s exclusive to HomePod mini 2 among the minis.
- Does it sound better? Apple credits the S10 chip with “advanced computational audio” but hasn’t directly claimed better sound than the original. Wait for reviews if audio is your main reason.
- Can I pair it with my old mini for stereo? No. Stereo pairs must be the same model and generation.
- What colors does it come in? White, midnight, pink, green and blue.