Igeekphone News, November 12th: MacRumors, a technology media outlet, published a blog post yesterday (November 11th), summarizing the existing information and predicting that Apple will launch HomePod mini 2 in the near future, which will feature three core upgrades.
In terms of chips, the HomePod mini 2 is expected to be equipped with the S9 or S10 chip, replacing the S5 chip based on the 2019 Apple Watch Series 5 used in the current model.
The S9 and S10 chips are based on the more advanced A15/A16 Bionic architecture, which can offer stronger CPU and GPU performance, a more advanced neural network engine, and a higher energy efficiency ratio. This upgrade will significantly enhance the device’s computational audio processing capabilities and response speed, providing users with a smoother Siri interaction and real-time audio tuning experience.
In terms of connectivity, the HomePod mini 2 will be equipped with Apple’s self-developed N1 Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chips. This chip supports Wi-Fi 7 standard. Compared with Wi-Fi 4 of the current HomePod mini, it has a faster connection speed and lower latency.
In terms of interaction accuracy, the HomePod mini 2 integrates the second-generation Ultra-Wideband (UWB) chip. This chip made its debut with the iPhone 15 series in 2023, and its spatial perception capability far exceeds that of the previous generation.
After integrating this chip, HomePod mini will be able to detect the exact position and orientation of nearby devices with centimeter-level accuracy, thereby providing a more reliable and lower-latency Handoff experience, allowing users to switch audio playback between different devices more seamlessly.
In terms of appearance and color, Igeekphone quoted a blog post as saying that the new HomePod mini is expected to introduce new color options. Besides the known red test version, the specific color schemes have not been announced yet. The current model is available in blue, yellow, midnight, orange and white.