HomePod mini and Apple TV: New models reportedly finally ready
Anyone buying Apple TV or HomePod mini today is getting old stock. New models are in the pipeline. But when will they arrive?
Colorful and old: The HomePod mini.
(Image: Apple)
For months, users of Apple's most important consumer electronics devices have been waiting for news. The Apple TV streaming box and the HomePod smart speaker range should have been updated long ago. According to a report, the release is now imminent; at least the hardware is said to be “almost ready.” The question now is whether Apple is perhaps waiting for new AI functions that are not expected until autumn. There might be initial indications of this on Monday at Apple's WWDC 2026 developer conference.
Current status completely outdated
The current smart speakers are three (HomePod 2) and even six (HomePod mini) years old. The devices have been sold unchanged since then, apart from minimal changes to the color range. Both audio components and the integrated System-in-a-Packages (SiPs) are therefore very old and no longer up-to-date. It is therefore actually only advisable to refrain from buying. Most recently, there were reports of problems with the (technically very simple) touchscreen of the HomePod mini, which can occur after a few years.
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For the Apple TV devices, Apple presented the third 4K generation almost four years ago (2022). At that time, the multimedia box was updated to the A15 Bionic chip – these processors come from the iPhone 13. New features included support for HDR10+ and HDMI 2.1 with QMS. Apple also launched two device variants – one with WLAN, Ethernet, and Thread, and one with WLAN only.
What new features are expected
According to a report by Bloomberg, at least a new Apple TV and a HomePod mini have been ready “for months.” The company's employees have been using the devices “actively” for a long time. The reason for the delayed release is said to be that Apple apparently wants to release new Siri and AI functions, which have been awaited for two years at the same time. If that is indeed the case, it would mean waiting at least until autumn – only then will the next operating systems be released, which are then expected to receive an AI boost for Apple Intelligence thanks to Google Gemini.
Bloomberg further states that not much more than a new chip is planned for Apple TV. A redesign of the remote control (Siri Remote) is also conceivable. The new HomePod mini features a new SiP that is said to support new AI functions. Whether there will also be a large HomePod 3 is unclear. In addition, a novel home device, a “Home Hub” in the form of a small touchscreen device, has been pending for a long time.
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