Apple opens $149 HomePod mini 2 preorders, with Siri AI arriving later

Apple opened preorders for HomePod mini 2 on October 13, 2026, pricing the smart speaker at $149 in the U.S. Store availability begins October 30. Its headline AI feature will follow later: Apple promises a more conversational Siri that can use personal information and act across apps, through a future software update.

The speaker arrives first

The new model comes in pink, green, blue, white and midnight. Preorders are open in the U.S. and more than 23 other countries and regions through Apple’s online store and Apple Store app. Apple lists compatibility with HomePod software 27.2.

Apple’s S10 chip powers the speaker’s audio processing. The company says it analyzes music in real time to adjust dynamic range, loudness and acoustic performance. A single unit delivers 360-degree sound; users can also combine two in a stereo pair or play audio across multiple rooms.

For home theater, HomePod mini 2 supports a four-speaker surround-sound setup with the fourth-generation Apple TV 4K. Apple says the system recognizes speaker positions and automatically adjusts timing and levels to the room. The speaker can also serve as the default audio output for a Mac, including movies, games and video calls.

A new feature called Sound Glow makes the speaker’s top pulse with the music, reacting to bass and treble. Album artwork supplies matching colors for each song. Users can also select soundscapes such as rain, with accompanying animations rather than the music-driven light display.

Siri’s promised move from answers to actions

Apple says Siri AI uses a new architecture built on its latest generation of Apple Foundation Models. The planned assistant combines web-based answers with back-and-forth conversation and access to personal information on a paired, Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone or iPad.

The promised tasks connect information inside apps with something the user wants done. Apple gives these examples:

• Find a song a friend recommended in a text message.
• Set a reminder linked to a calendar event or a location.
• Locate a recipe in an email or add ingredients to a grocery list.

For a shared household, Apple says HomePod mini can recognize up to six people by voice and connect to their devices for personalized requests. That includes working with Messages and timers, as well as playing each person’s favorite music.

One home setup, different levels of access

Enabling Siri AI also requires the home’s owner in the Home app to have an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone or iPad running the latest software. Once enabled on the speaker, Apple says people without those devices can still use its general knowledge, conversational features and improved music discovery.

The connected-home functions include voice commands for accessories and automations, plus remote control through the Home app. Sound Recognition listens for smoke or carbon monoxide alarms and sends notifications to an iPhone, iPad or Apple Watch. Users can then listen and talk to someone at home through HomePod mini.

Apple says Siri requests can run on the device or through Private Cloud Compute, its cloud-processing system. For requests handled there, the company says data is neither stored nor accessible to Apple or anyone else.

The future Siri AI update will be free and support English in the U.S., Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa and the UK. Apple has not announced its release date, leaving the assistant’s arrival as the next milestone after the hardware reaches stores.