What was the moral of The Boy Who Cried Wolf? Keep telling the same old tale and, eventually, people will stop believing you.
We've had so many false dawns with regard to the new HomePod Mini 2 that we were genuinely starting to believe that a sequel would never come. Apple's recent September launch event seemed like the perfect time for some new HomePods, but we had to settle for a folding iPhone and the AirPods 5 with ANC.
We know we've said it before, but this time it really does appear to be the case: Apple looks set to launch the HomePod Mini 2 at some point before the end of 2026. According to MacRumours, Apple has indeed been working on a new HomePod for several years, hence previous reports of iOS software updates including codenames referencing a number of unreleased products.
One of those codenames was 'B525', and as the current HomePod Mini has the code 'B520', that had strongly implied that a second-gen sequel was forthcoming. We all thought that Apple's recent launch event would be the time to do it, but a no-show on the HomePod front now appears to be a minor hiccup rather than a definitive sign that no new models would ever be forthcoming.
Now, the evidence is far more concrete than codes and call signs. According to MacRumours, Apple's own code shows clear product images of the new models in all of their colours, specifically referring to a "HomePod Mini 2".
The new HomePod Mini will come in green, pink, blue, white and black finishes, a switch up from the current model's yellow, orange, blue, white and midnight offerings. Apple added a few colourways post-launch to the HomePod Mini, so it could expand the palette of the second-gen speaker later down the line.
Elsewhere, we're still at the point of broad speculation regarding upgrades, but we remain steadfast in our conviction that, thanks to a new chip, upgraded Apple Intelligence and improved Siri performance will be locked and loaded. We might potentially see improved microphones, enhanced audio, better codec support and, as pictures now showcase, those flashy new colourways.
Prices are yet to be leaked, but we're still hoping that Apple doesn't hike the price of the Mini's original £99 / $99 / AU$149 RRP for the sequel. Sadly, chip shortages are hitting audio manufacturers hard, so don't be too shocked if prices rise when the Mini 2 arrives.
We know we've said it before, but this time it really might be true: a HomePod Mini 2 could be just months, maybe weeks, away. Now, where's that HomePod 3 got to?
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