Apple’s HomePod mini 2 reached stores on October 30, 2026, priced at $149 in the US. Apple announced it on October 13. The headline caveat is that Siri AI is not in the launch software: Apple says it arrives later in a software update. This article lists what Apple’s own pages confirm.
Price, colours and availability
- Price: $149 in the US, the same for every colour.
- Colours: pink, green, blue, white and midnight.
- Pre-orders: opened October 13 in the US and more than 23 other countries and regions.
- In stores: from October 30, 2026.
- Software: requires HomePod software 27.2.
Chip and sound
The speaker uses Apple’s S10 chip. Apple’s store page lists a full-range driver and two force-cancelling passive radiators. It also says the speaker does not offer Spatial Audio or room sensing, features that the full-size HomePod has. That larger model is listed at $349.
Two HomePod mini 2 units can form a stereo pair, and the speaker works for multiroom playback with other compatible speakers. Apple says a single unit gives 360-degree sound.
Sound Glow
The top of the speaker lights up and pulses with bass and treble. It draws on the colours of the album artwork shown in Now Playing, and it offers soundscapes such as rain. Apple says voice control of the light needs an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone.
Surround sound with Apple TV 4K
Four HomePod mini 2 speakers, or HomePod (2nd generation) units, can provide surround sound with an Apple TV 4K (4th generation). They must be set up in matching front and rear pairs, and the system calibrates to the room. The new Apple TV 4K goes on sale on November 13.
Siri AI: later, with conditions
Apple says Siri AI will come in a free software update, in English, in the US, Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa and the UK. The conditions:
- the home owner needs an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone or iPad on the latest software, with Siri AI turned on;
- personal context requests need a paired Apple Intelligence device;
- it is not initially available in the EU on iOS or iPadOS;
- some server-side features have daily usage limits.
Smart home features
The store page lists Sound Recognition, which can detect smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. Apple says not to rely on it in emergencies. The speaker also measures temperature and humidity, with best accuracy indoors at about 15 to 30 degrees Celsius and 30 to 70 percent relative humidity. The speaker works as a Mac speaker on Macs with Wi-Fi 6E or later. New Apple Music subscribers get three months free, then $11.99 a month.
What to weigh
Buyers who want Siri AI on day one should note that it is not in the launch software. The price is $149, while Apple’s page positions the mini against a $349 HomePod that adds Spatial Audio and room sensing. Prices outside the US vary, so readers elsewhere should check Apple’s local store.
