The Upcoming HomePod Mini: What's New and What's Missing?

Apple is gearing up to release a new version of the HomePod mini. This time, they're focusing on upgrading the chip inside. The current model uses the S5 chip, which is also found in the Apple Watch Series 5. For the new model, Apple might use the S9 chip or its smaller version, the S10. These chips are based on the A13 architecture, which is more powerful and efficient than the A12 used in the S5. The S5 chip in the current HomePod mini is designed for low-power tasks like Siri and real-time audio tuning. The S9 and S10 chips, on the other hand, offer better performance and a more advanced Neural Engine. This means the new HomePod mini could be faster and more responsive. In addition to the chip upgrade, the new HomePod mini is expected to come with the N1 chip, which supports Wi-Fi 6E. This is a big deal because Wi-Fi 6E is faster and has lower latency than the current Wi-Fi 4. It also reduces signal interference, making your smart home devices work better together.Apple might also include the second-generation Ultra Wideband chip in the new HomePod mini. This chip was first introduced in the iPhone 15 lineup. It improves spatial awareness, allowing the HomePod mini to detect the exact position and orientation of nearby devices within a few centimeters. This could make tasks like Handoff more reliable and faster. The new HomePod mini is also expected to come in new colors. While the exact colors are not yet known, red has been reported to be in testing. The current HomePod mini comes in Blue, Yellow, Midnight, Orange, and White. According to reports, the new HomePod mini will be designed with Apple's new smart home ecosystem in mind. However, it's unclear if there will be any improvements to Siri. Unlike the rumored smart home hub product, the new HomePod mini is not expected to support Apple Intelligence.