Apple launches HomePod mini 2 with four-speaker surround

Apple has introduced its next-generation compact smart speaker. The Apple HomePod mini 2 uses an S10 chip and costs US$149. Pre-orders opened on 13 October 2026 in the US and more than 23 other countries and regions, with in-store availability beginning on 30 October 2026.

The speaker provides 360-degree sound dispersion and supports single-speaker, stereo-pair and multiroom playback, with real-time computational audio processing to optimize dynamic range, loudness and acoustic performance. Four-speaker surround playback requires an Apple TV 4K (4th generation) running the latest operating system. That configuration uses matching front and rear pairs of HomePod mini 2 or HomePod (2nd generation) speakers. The surround setup automatically calibrates audio timing and levels to the speakers' positions.

Siri AI is scheduled to arrive through a future free software update. Enabling it requires the Home app's home owner to have an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone or iPad running the latest software, with Siri AI enabled in a supported language. Personal-context requests require a paired Apple Intelligence-enabled device that also has Siri AI enabled in a supported language. Siri requests can use on-device processing or Private Cloud Compute.

The new Sound Glow feature illuminates the speaker's top surface in sync with music, deriving its lighting colors from album artwork. It also supports soundscape-specific animations. Voice control for Sound Glow requires an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone running the latest software. For computer audio, HomePod mini 2 can serve as the default speaker for a Mac with Wi-Fi 6E or later, using either a single speaker or a stereo pair.