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New colors, a glowing top, and for the first time, surround sound with four speakers: Apple has unveiled the HomePod mini 2. However, the most important new feature is missing everywhere at launch – Siri AI will only arrive with a later update. And even then, it won't be available in Germany.
The HomePod mini 2 is available for pre-order starting today and will be released on Friday, October 30th. In Germany, it will cost €169. Bloomberg reported this date a few days ago, when it stated that the Apple TV 4K and HomePod mini would be released on October 30th. Further details can be found in the German announcement on the Apple Newsroom.
Apple unveiled the speaker on the same day as the Home View smart home hub and the Apple Home Collection. Unlike these two new products, the HomePod mini is one of the devices that Apple also sells in this country.
Key Facts at a Glance
- The HomePod mini 2 has the S10 chip and comes in pink, green, blue, white and midnight.
- With the new Apple TV 4K, four speakers create a surround sound for the first time, which automatically adjusts to the room.
- A light effect on the top pulses to the beat of the music, and the speaker also serves as a speaker when connected to a Mac.
- It costs 169 euros in Germany, 30 euros more than its predecessor, and will be available from October 30th.
- Siri AI will only be available via an update and initially only in English in eight countries. Germany is not included; the German announcement doesn't even mention Siri AI.
S10 chip and five new colors
The HomePod mini 2 uses the S10 chip. It continuously analyzes the music and adjusts the dynamics and volume. The sound continues to radiate in all directions, whether used individually, as a stereo pair, or distributed throughout multiple rooms.
A new feature, called Apple Sound Glow, is the top of the speaker: it lights up and pulsates in sync with the bass and treble. The colors are based on the album art of the currently playing track. There are also separate animations for background sounds like rain.
| HomePod mini | HomePod mini 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price in Germany | 139 euros (last price) | 169 euros |
| Colours | White, Yellow, Orange, Blue, Midnight | Pink, Green, Blue, White, Midnight |
| Surround sound with four speakers | – | with Apple TV 4K (4th generation) |
| Sound Glow | – | Yes |
Four speakers on the Apple TV 4K
Together with the fourth-generation Apple TV 4K, it's now possible for the first time to create surround sound using four speakers. The Apple TV and speakers detect the position of each speaker in the room and automatically adjust the timing and volume.
This requires four speakers in matching pairs at the front and rear; suitable models include the HomePod mini 2 and the second-generation HomePod.
On a Mac, the HomePod mini 2 also serves as a speaker for movies, games, and video calls, either individually or as a stereo pair. A Mac with Wi-Fi 6E or later is required.
Voice profiles and Smart Home
As a control center for Apple Home, it switches lights, locks or thermostats via voice and makes the accessories accessible via the Home app even when you're away from home.
If it detects a smoke or carbon monoxide alarm, it sends a notification to its iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch. Along with doorbells and cameras that use HomeKit Secure Video facial recognition, it announces who is at the door.
Siri AI is tied to the household's iPhone
Apple will bring Siri AI to the HomePod mini 2 with a later software update. The English announcement specifies that this feature will be available in the US, Australia, the UK, India, Canada, New Zealand, Singapore, and South Africa. The German version omits Siri AI entirely, as well as the voice recognition of up to six people, which is described in the English version.
The requirement is stated in Apple's footnotes: To manage your home in the Home app, you need an iPhone or iPad with Apple Intelligence and Siri AI enabled. Siri AI is not available on iPhones in the EU, so this requirement is not met in Germany.
A good update without the main thing
In my opinion, the HomePod mini 2 is a solid hardware update for this country, but not the device Apple is marketing it as. Almost everything highlighted in the press release – conversations with Siri AI, personal content, improved music search – isn't available in Germany for the time being. What remains are the sound, colors, the lighting effect, and surround sound with Apple TV – for a €30 price premium over its predecessor.
But the surround sound is a real selling point. Anyone planning to install an Apple TV in their living room anyway will get a system that calibrates itself with four new-generation HomePod minis. This works independently of Siri AI.
Are you buying the HomePod mini 2 for its sound and surround sound, or are you waiting until Siri AI is available on it in your region? Tell us in the comments what you use your HomePod mini for.
