Apple isn’t accomplished launching new merchandise this fall. Rumors level to the much-anticipated HomePod mini 2 lastly coming quickly, together with a next-gen Apple TV 4K.
Right here’s all the things we find out about these upcoming home-entertainment units.
HomePod mini 2 will get lots smarter
Apple’s HomePod mini is a compact sensible speaker designed to ship room-filling sound regardless of its small dimension. Past merely enjoying music and podcasts, it’s powered by Siri and serves as a wise house hub, permitting customers to regulate HomeKit units, ship intercom messages, set reminders, and get fast solutions utilizing simply their voice.
The authentic HomePod mini premiered in 2020 — a full 5 years in the past. Fortunately, a substitute is on the best way. And it’s rumored to be a substantial improve.
The present model makes use of a comparatively historic S5 chip (from 2019). The brand new mannequin will use a processor highly effective sufficient to deal with Apple Intelligence and the brand new AI-enhanced model of Siri that’s supposedly on the best way in 2026.
Audio upgrades are a protected assumption for the HomePod mini 2. Whereas it’s a wise house accent, enjoying music and podcasts is the speaker’s main operate, and Apple at the moment can ship higher sound than it might in 2020.
Apple’s new N1 wi-fi chip is predicted to allow Wi-Fi 7 and Thread. Plus, a second-generation Apple Extremely Wideband (UWB) chip is rumored, which ought to improve proximity options like Handoff.
HomePod mini 2 launch date and worth
Sadly, no tipster has a particular HomePod mini 2 launch date. That mentioned, it’s broadly anticipated this fall, which might get the product on retailer cabinets in time for the vacation purchasing season.
Alternatively, if it launches now, it’ll come and not using a signature characteristic: that smarter model of Siri talked about earlier. So Apple may maintain the system till the launch of AI-enhanced Siri.
The HomePod mini 2 worth can be a thriller. It’s attainable it’ll keep on the present model’s $99.
A brand new Apple TV 4K for 2025
Apple TV 4K is Apple’s premium video streaming system that delivers 4K Dolby Imaginative and prescient and HDR10+ image high quality with Dolby Atmos sound. It offers customers entry to the vary of widespread streaming providers. As a bonus, its Apple A15 Bionic chip allows high-end gaming by way of the App Retailer.
The third-generation Apple TV 4K launched in late 2022, so it’s three years previous. Rumors point out {that a} substitute is within the offing, and lots of the new options may sound acquainted.
Whereas one is for audio and the opposite for video, HomePod mini and Apple TV 4K have a lot in frequent. That’s why it’s no shock that the upcoming model of the digital media participant is predicted to get lots of the identical enhancements because the audio participant. That features a sooner A17 Professional processor that’ll provide help for Apple Intelligence and the AI-enhanced model of Siri.
Past AI, a more moderen chip might deliver hardware-accelerated ray tracing for extra console-quality gaming. That’s a boon for the numerous Apple Arcade video games playable on Apple TV.
Hopefully, the fourth-generation Apple TV 4K will help the brand new Dolby Imaginative and prescient 2. This guarantees to mechanically optimize the TV’s image high quality based mostly on what’s being watched and the viewer’s atmosphere.
It’s seemingly the digital media participant will get the new Apple N1 wi-fi chip for help for Wi-Fi 7.
4th-gen Apple TV 4K launch date and worth
All of the rumors level to a fourth-generation Apple TV 4K launch date earlier than the tip of 2025.
The present model begins at $129. There’s no particular phrase on whether or not the value will change.
