{"slug": "homepod-rumors-all-we-know-about-homepod-mini-2-homepod-touch-homepad-hub", "title": "HomePod rumors: All we know about HomePod mini 2, HomePod Touch & HomePad hub", "summary": "Apple is reportedly preparing several new smart home devices, including a HomePod mini 2 and a display-equipped hub called the \"HomePad,\" but is delaying their launch until its redesigned AI-powered Siri is ready, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. The current HomePod mini uses the Apple Watch S5 chip and the 2nd-generation HomePod runs on the S7 chip, which lack the performance needed for Apple's latest AI models. The new devices are expected to feature more powerful Apple silicon and could debut alongside iOS 27 and the upgraded Siri this fall.", "body_md": "Apple’s HomePod lineup could be about to undergo its biggest expansion since the original HomePod launched. Rather than simply refreshing its existing smart speakers, Apple is reportedly preparing several new smart home devices, including products that blur the line between HomePod, smart display and home hub.\n\nThe company is said to have three smart home products “very nearly ready to release,” according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. However, Apple is reportedly delaying their launch until its redesigned AI-powered Siri is ready, with the new assistant expected to debut alongside the OS 27 updates later this year.\n\nIf those plans stay on track, Apple could unveil its next wave of HomePod and smart home devices shortly after iOS 27 and the upgraded Siri are released this fall.\n\nIn this guide, we round up all the latest rumours and reports about Apple’s upcoming HomePod products, including expected release dates, new hardware, Apple Intelligence features and pricing.\n\nApple’s HomePod lineup currently consists of two models, both of which became more expensive following Apple’s June 2026 price increases. The HomePod mini now costs $129, while the 2nd-generation HomePod is priced at $349. But the real story isn’t the current speakers – it’s the next generation of smart home devices Apple is preparing.\n\nAccording to multiple reports, Apple is developing several new HomePod-related products, including updated HomePod and HomePod mini models and a display-equipped smart home hub, widely referred to as the “HomePad.”\n\nRumored new products include the following, the names aren’t confirmed, we are using them as placeholders:\n\n| Placeholder name | What is it | When | Likelihood |\n|---|---|---|---|\n|\n\nThe biggest obstacle is Siri.\n\nApple’s next-generation Siri is designed to be a far more capable assistant, able to understand conversational context, personal information and on-screen content as part of Apple Intelligence. However, the chips inside today’s HomePods simply aren’t powerful enough to support these features.\n\nThe HomePod mini uses the Apple Watch S5 chip, while the 2nd-generation HomePod runs on the S7 chip. Those processors work well for music playback, HomeKit control and basic voice commands, but they lack the performance needed for Apple’s latest AI models.\n\nAs a result, Apple is widely believed to have delayed its new HomePod hardware until it can launch devices capable of delivering the full Siri AI experience. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports that several [smart home products are effectively ready](https://www.macworld.com/article/3201176/apples-big-siri-ai-powered-smart-home-hub-is-nearly-here.html), but are being held back until the redesigned Siri ships with the [iOS 27 software updates](https://www.macworld.com/article/2986799/ios-27-new-iphone-features-release-date-beta-compatiblity-apple-intelligence-siri.html) later this year.\n\nThat means the next generation of HomePods is expected to feature significantly more powerful Apple silicon, enabling Apple Intelligence features that the current models cannot support.\n\nWe’ll start off with the rumors about the HomePod mini 2. The HomePod mini is Apple’s smaller, more affordable smart speaker. The new model is expected to offer a new red color option, major processor upgrade and improved connectivity.\n\nFoundry\n\nApple introduced the original HomePod mini in November 2020, so it is now nearly six years old and overdue for an update.\n\nRumours of a successor have circulated for more than a year. In January 2025, reports suggested a launch [toward the end of 2025](https://www.macworld.com/article/1483580/no-new-homepod-mini.html), and Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman subsequently said that new HomePod mini and Apple TV models were [expected in autumn 2025](https://www.macworld.com/article/2830340/unreleased-apple-product-revealed-by-mysterious-code-reference.html). Those products never materialised.\n\nAttention then shifted to spring 2026, with reports suggesting Apple’s new smart home devices would launch alongside its redesigned Siri. However, that timetable also slipped as Apple continued work on its AI-powered assistant.\n\nThe latest reports now point to an October 2026 launch. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple has several smart home products that are nearly ready but is [waiting for the redesigned Siri](https://www.macworld.com/article/2946946/concerns-grow-over-new-siris-performance-as-apples-ai-struggles-continue.html) to ship with the OS 27 updates before introducing new hardware.\n\nIf those plans remain on schedule, the HomePod mini 2 is expected to launch alongside Apple’s broader refresh of its smart home lineup this fall, with most reports pointing to October.\n\nThe current HomePod mini is available in Midnight, White, Blue, Yellow and Orange. In September 2025, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reported that Apple has [tested additional colours](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-09-05/what-apple-is-planning-to-introduce-at-sept-9-awe-dropping-iphone-17-event) for the next-generation model, including red, although it remains unclear whether any new colours will make it to the final product.\n\nOtherwise, it is expected to retain the same compact, spherical design as the current model, with no major external changes rumoured. Instead, Apple is reportedly focusing on more powerful internal hardware, with an S9 or newer chip able to support next-generation AI-powered Siri features.\n\nAlongside a faster processor, the HomePod mini 2 is also rumoured to include:\n\nThe larger HomePod is more expensive than the HomePod mini, delivering richer, louder audio with deeper bass and spatial audio. The next generation is expected to get a processor upgrade, improved connectivity and better sound.\n\nMichael Brown/Foundry\n\nApple has not officially announced a third-generation HomePod, but Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman says the company is preparing several new smart home products that are being held back until its redesigned AI-powered Siri is ready.\n\nIf those plans remain on schedule, the HomePod 3 is expected to launch alongside the HomePod mini 2 following the release of the OS 27 updates later this year.\n\nUnlike the HomePod mini 2, there are relatively few leaks about hardware upgrades coming to the full-size HomePod. However, it’s expected to receive the same core internal upgrades needed to support Apple’s AI ambitions.\n\nExpected improvements include:\n\nBeyond these internal upgrades, some reports suggest Apple is experimenting with a HomePod featuring a built-in display. That device is expected to be a separate product rather than a standard HomePod 3, and we cover those rumours in the next section.\n\nApple has been rumored to be working on a HomePod with a screen for years, and while it hasn’t launched yet, the evidence that it’s coming is now overwhelming. Read on to find out what we know about the HomePod with Screen – perhaps called HomePod Touch – based on the latest reports.\n\nFoundry and Apple\n\nApple has been working redesigning the HomePod to include a display for some time. Back in March 2023, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claimed Apple would “unveil a redesigned HomePod featuring a 7-inch panel.” Kuo initially expected this product to arrive in the first half of 2024, but that timeline slipped. In December 2024, he reported further delays had pushined the launch to [after WWDC 2025](https://www.macworld.com/article/2545292/will-it-ever-arrive-apples-homepod-with-a-screen-reportedly-delayed-again.html), citing software development challenges. Then, in March 2025, Kuo suggested the device had been delayed again, due to [Apple Intelligence setbacks](https://x.com/mingchikuo/status/1899850124828053800).\n\nCurrent speculation suggests a possible release in the fall of 2026, with the release slipping as the major updates to [Siri and Apple’s AI platform have been further delayed](https://www.macworld.com/article/3056176/apples-siri-saga-is-at-the-point-of-no-return.html). Alternatively, the HomePod Touch may gain AI related features as part of a later software update.\n\nFoundry\n\nOne of the biggest limitations of today’s HomePod is that almost every interaction relies on Siri. A built-in display would provide a more direct way to control music, manage smart home devices and access information, putting Apple’s device in direct competition with the Amazon Echo Show and Google Nest Hub.\n\nAccording to current rumours, Apple’s display-equipped HomePod will feature a 6-7-inch touchscreen and run a touch-optimised version of homeOS, allowing it to function as both a smart speaker and a smart home hub. Unlike existing HomePods, it is expected to use a far more powerful A-series chip – possibly an A18 or similar – to support Apple’s redesigned AI-powered Siri and the more demanding graphical interface.\n\nRumoured features:\n\nIf accurate, this would represent Apple’s biggest expansion of the HomePod lineup since its debut, transforming it from a voice-first speaker into a full smart home controller.\n\nBen Patterson/Foundry\n\nApple’s first-ever smart home display had been rumored to launch in the spring of 2026, but it’s been delayed due to issues with Siri, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. He claims the [hardware has been ready for some time](https://www.macworld.com/article/3083918/homepad-reportedly-delayed-again-and-its-all-siris-fault-again.html), according to anonymous sources with knowledge of the matter.\n\nAnother leaker, known as Kosutami, who has made accurate predictions in the past, posted on [X](https://x.com/Kosutami_Ito/status/2029399217224184173) on March 5 to predict: “Autumn. Home. Integrated with Pad. Now coming.” That somewhat cryptic post doesn’t necessarily refer to the HomePad, but it seems likely.\n\nApple has reportedly been exploring a broader smart home strategy for years, and the HomePad could be its most ambitious step yet.\n\nAs far back as April 2021, Mark Gurman described a high-end device combining a HomePod speaker, a touchscreen, and a [camera mounted on a robotic arm](https://www.macworld.com/article/2795220/apples-luxo-jr-like-tabletop-robot-has-reportedly-been-fast-tracked-for-launch.html) that could [follow the user around the room](https://www.macworld.com/article/2427662/apple-has-several-hundred-people-working-on-homepod-with-robotic-display.html) during video calls. Gurman has made [various references](https://www.macworld.com/article/1477957/smart-home-rumors-wall-display-apple-tv.html) to this over the years.\n\nReports suggest Apple may be planning multiple smart home hub products, potentially split into two tiers:\n\nA revamped, AI-powered Siri is expected to be central to the experience – and its ongoing development is widely believed to be the main reason these products have yet to launch.\n\nImagen 3 (Gemini)\n\nSpeculation regarding the HomePad’s internal specifications and software capabilities includes:\n\nThe biggest limitation of today’s HomePods isn’t their speakers – it’s their processors. The HomePod mini still uses the Apple Watch S5 chip introduced in 2019, while the second-generation HomePod runs on the newer, but still relatively modest, S7 chip from the Apple Watch Series 7.\n\nThose chips are powerful enough for music playback, HomeKit control and basic Siri requests, but they are not capable of running Apple’s next-generation AI features. Apple Intelligence currently requires an A17 Pro, M1 or newer chip, making it impossible to bring the full AI-powered Siri experience to the existing HomePod hardware.\n\nThat hardware gap is widely believed to be the main reason Apple has delayed its next generation of HomePods. Rather than updating Siri on the existing speakers, Apple is expected to launch new models with significantly faster processors capable of supporting Apple Intelligence.\n\nBloomberg’s Mark Gurman has said the only confirmed hardware change coming to the new HomePods is a faster chip, although he has not identified which processor Apple will use. The most commonly suggested possibilities are the S9, S10 or S11 chips, but these remain speculative and have not been reported by Gurman or other major Apple analysts.\n\nThe display-equipped HomePod is expected to require substantially more processing power than Apple’s existing smart speakers. Because it will reportedly run a touch-based operating system alongside Apple Intelligence, most analysts expect it to use an A-series processor, with an A17 Pro or A18 among the leading predictions. Apple has not confirmed the chip, and these reports remain speculative.\n\nWhatever processors Apple ultimately chooses, the goal appears to be the same across the entire HomePod range: replacing ageing Apple Watch chips with modern Apple silicon capable of delivering the full Apple Intelligence experience.\n\nThe prices for the HomePods increased in June 2026:\n\nWith Apple increasing prices in June 2026, we think that these change are like to stick for the updated versions.\n\nHowever, a HomePod with a built-in screen could command a higher price. It may launch as a separate product altogether, potentially starting around $399/£399, or higher, depending on features.\n\nWith prices recently rising on devices that are already underpowered our advice would be: do not buy now.\n\nApple’s smart-home roadmap is expected to accelerate in 2026 and beyond, as the company expands its Home ecosystem with new hardware, AI features and services designed to compete with Amazon and Google.\n\n**Ongoing**: Apple continues to lean on the Matter standard to increase device compatibility. Updates like Matter 1.5 have added support for security cameras and energy management, which Apple is expected to integrate into the Home app.\n\n**February 2026**: On February 10, 2026, Apple ended support for its legacy HomeKit architecture. This transition removed the ability to use an iPad as a home hub, restricting that role to the Apple TV 4K or HomePod.\n\n**Mid 2026**: Launch of new HomePod mini 2 and HomePod 3.\n\n**Later in 2026**: Apple intends to overhaul Siri. A completely redesigned, LLM-based Siri is expected to debut in early 2026 to power the new smart hubs. Previous delays in the smart home roadmap were largely attributed to Siri’s development “snags”\n\n**September 2026**: iOS 27 (expected September 2026) may include AI vision recognition, allowing cameras to recognize specific users and their actions to trigger automations while maintaining privacy.\n\n**Fall 2026**: Launch of Apple’s HomePad device(s).\n\n**Apple** **Security Camera**: Reports indicate Apple plans to enter the security camera market with its own hardware. [Code discovered](https://www.macworld.com/article/2962970/hidden-ios-26-2-code-points-to-mystery-apple-smart-home-accessory.html) in iOS 26.2 includes a new “isFirstPartyAccessory” flag, suggesting support for Apple-branded cameras and doorbells that integrate deeply with the ecosystem.\n\n**Robotic HomeHub**: A home assistant with a display mounted on a robotic arm", "url": "https://wpnews.pro/news/homepod-rumors-all-we-know-about-homepod-mini-2-homepod-touch-homepad-hub", "canonical_source": "https://www.macworld.com/article/676817/new-homepod-mini-screen-rumours-release-date.html", "published_at": "2026-07-29 12:31:28+00:00", "updated_at": "2026-07-29 13:12:03.239043+00:00", "lang": "en", "topics": ["artificial-intelligence", "ai-products", "ai-infrastructure"], "entities": ["Apple", "HomePod mini", "HomePod", "HomePad", "Bloomberg", "Mark Gurman", "Siri", "iOS 27"], "alternates": {"html": "https://wpnews.pro/news/homepod-rumors-all-we-know-about-homepod-mini-2-homepod-touch-homepad-hub", "markdown": "https://wpnews.pro/news/homepod-rumors-all-we-know-about-homepod-mini-2-homepod-touch-homepad-hub.md", "text": "https://wpnews.pro/news/homepod-rumors-all-we-know-about-homepod-mini-2-homepod-touch-homepad-hub.txt", "jsonld": "https://wpnews.pro/news/homepod-rumors-all-we-know-about-homepod-mini-2-homepod-touch-homepad-hub.jsonld"}}