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Apple didn't unveil a new large model on October 13th, but the existing HomePod is getting features from the new HomePod mini 2. Apple has redesigned its product page, and the large speaker now lights up in time with the music. This isn't yet visible on the German website.
Apple has added several features to the US product page for the HomePod (2nd generation) that were previously only advertised for the HomePod mini 2. These include Sound Glow, the ability to control the device using only Siri, and surround sound with four speakers. This is not a new device; the page describes the model that Apple has been selling since early 2023.
At the "Welcome home" event on October 13, Apple had unveiled the HomePod mini 2, the new Apple TV 4K, and HomeView, while the larger HomePod was left out. Just the following day, a multicolored glow on the HomePod 2 appeared in an image caption on Apple's order page. Now the feature appears in the text of the product page itself.
Key Facts at a Glance
- Apple's US product page now also mentions Sound Glow for the HomePod (2nd generation): The top lights up in the colors of the album cover.
- The option to address someone using only "Siri" is also mentioned on the page, initially only in English in four countries, according to the footnote.
- Surround sound with four speakers and use with a Mac had already been mentioned by Apple in the documentation for the HomePod mini 2.
- The German product page for the HomePod 2 is still outdated.
Sound Glow on the large HomePod
On the revised page, Apple describes Sound Glow without specifying a model: The top of the HomePod lights up in colors that match the album artwork and pulses to the beat of the music. According to a footnote, voice control of the feature requires an iPhone with Apple Intelligence and current software. Apple states the same requirement on the German page for the HomePod mini 2, where the feature is called Sound Glow.
The HomePod 2 already has the necessary hardware. Its touch surface already displays colored light, for example, when Siri is listening. Sound Lights utilizes this surface; no new component is needed.
More Siri, but no Siri AI
Two further additions concern Siri. According to the site, the HomePod can now be addressed simply with "Siri," eliminating the need for "Hey." Additionally, Siri should be able to play audio from any app on the iPhone.
Apple's websites contradict each other regarding the "Hey" voice command. The US HomePod 2 page includes a footnote limiting the feature to English only in Australia, Canada, the UK, and the US. However, the German HomePod mini 2 page promotes the shorter voice command without such a restriction.
Siri AI isn't mentioned on the redesigned page either. Apple has so far only announced the new assistant for the HomePod mini 2, initially in English and in eight countries; Germany is not among them.
Surround Sound and Mac: already known, now on the product page
Surround sound with four speakers is also mentioned on the HomePod 2 page. According to the footnote, four HomePod mini 2 or HomePod (2nd generation) units are required in matching pairs, front and rear, along with a 4th generation Apple TV 4K. An older Apple TV is not sufficient. In the tvOS 27.2 beta, the Apple TV 4K already played audio through four HomePods, though at that time without separate front and rear speaker assignments.
Apple lists the HomePod 2 as a speaker option for Macs in the footnote to the HomePod mini 2. All Macs with Wi-Fi 6E or newer are supported.
| Feature | Requirements according to Apple | Where Apple calls it for the HomePod 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Sound Glow | iPhone with Apple Intelligence for voice control | US product page HomePod 2 |
| Address only with "Siri" | English in Australia, Canada, Great Britain, USA (US side) | US product page HomePod 2 |
| Surround sound with four speakers | two pairs of HomePod 2 or HomePod mini 2, Apple TV 4K (4th generation) | Product pages for HomePod 2 (US) and HomePod mini 2 |
| Speakers on Mac | Mac with Wi-Fi 6E or newer | Product page HomePod mini 2 |
An update for a device from 2023
I consider the redesigned website the clearest indication that Apple isn't replacing the larger HomePod for the time being, but rather upgrading it via software. The site doesn't mention a version or release date. I expect the new features to arrive with the next HomePod software update, and the German product page will then follow suit. Anyone who already owns a HomePod 2 will thus get two new features of the mini 2 without having to buy a new device. The difference between the HomePod mini 2 and the HomePod 2 will therefore be even more pronounced in terms of sound, size, and price.
The only expensive part is home theater: surround sound with four speakers requires the new Apple TV 4K. So, if you already have two HomePod 2s set up as a stereo pair, you'll need two more speakers and a new Apple TV. All articles about the larger speaker can be found on the HomePod 2 page.
Would you buy the new Apple TV for surround sound with four HomePods, or is your stereo pair in front of the TV sufficient? Tell us about your home theater setup in the comments.
