There's a Google Home Mini and an Amazon Echo Dot. But is Apple about to release a smaller version of its popular HomePod smart speaker? This is a question we have been asking ourselves for over 6 months. Apple's annual iPhone launch event on September 12, 2018, did not reveal what the next HomePod would look like. Of course, that didn't stop us from speculating that the next version of the HomePod, the Apple HomePod 2, could be a more compact version of the original, going by the name of the Apple HomePod Mini. In the absence of any mention of an updated HomePod at launch in September, however, we simply don't know if Apple is about to launch a small HomePod Mini to counter rivals to the Google and Amazon smart speakers. According to a report published by Bloomberg in July 2018, Apple may have planned to launch HomePod 2 in early 2019, which would make sense given the release date of the original HomePod version; of course, it is not necessary. It never materializes. Some believe we could see an official announcement during Apple's WWDC keynote today (June 3). You can keep up to date on our WWDC 2019 live blog, which we'll be updating from San Jose, California. The original Apple HomePod has been on sale since February 2018 and has received mixed reviews so far. While many people have praised her as a speaker, in terms of her skills as a smart home hub, many wonder if she's worth the money. Some reports claim that sales aren't going very well, a HomePod Mini could be in the offing, and while Apple hasn't issued any confirmation yet, we've heard some rumors about this: a cheaper, cheaper HomePod. Smaller might be exactly what the brand should appeal to those who haven't yet been convinced. We've already seen how well the Google Home Mini and Amazon Echo Dot performed. It would be logical for Apple to do the same. Whether it's planned or not, this is exactly what we'd like to see with the HomePod 2 or HomePod Mini if it arrives.
Cut to the hunt
- What is it? The new Apple HomePod smart speaker could be the HomePod 2 or the famous HomePod Mini
- When did it come out? Without any mention at Apple's launch event in September, the launch date for 2019 seems increasingly likely.
- How much will it cost? There is no price at the moment, but if it is a smaller version it will probably be cheaper than the full HomePod.
Apple HomePod 2 release date
Considering that Apple HomePod 2 hasn't been announced yet, and there's really no historical model for previous versions of this product, it's hard to guess what it is. release date. We also don't know if the new HomePod will be full-size or if it's a mini version of the original. We were surprised not to hear about Apple's annual release for the iPhone, which limited smart home news to an updated HomePod operating system scheduled for September 17, with new search features, multiple timers, and multiple Siri languages. Mindful of the fact that Samsung has its own smart speaker in the form of the Galaxy Home, Apple may want to make its next move as soon as possible.
Apple HomePod 2 and Apple HomePod Mini news and rumors
There aren't really any buzz around the HomePod 2 or HomePod Mini rumors, but a few reports are worth mentioning. Facial identity and 3D gestures. A recently filed patent from Apple suggests that the second-generation smart speaker could support facial recognition. According to MacRumors, the patent describes a "countertop speakerphone" that could "identify users near the speakerphone with the help of facial recognition, as well as measure the distance between users (relative to the speakerphone)." The patent also explained that the countertop speaker would be equipped with "various sensors and cameras that collect hand gestures and other three-dimensional capture." The integration of a Face ID into the Apple HomePod 2 could provide an additional layer of security for users, as well as multiple user profiles, each of which will be identified using facial recognition. However, MacRumors also identified a rather unusual potential Apple HomePod 2 feature in the patent: an "emoticon-based avatar that adapts to the user's mood or actions," perhaps reflecting their emotions Beats brand One of the More recent rumors of a new HomePod have been conjured up by a Chinese tech company called Sina, which might have a discounted Beats-branded HomePod in the works. Since Apple bought the company in 2014, we haven't seen many new Beats. This could be a chance for Apple to revive its name by repositioning the HomePod, which would have skidded, before it was new (perhaps younger). According to the report, the new HomePod would cost around US$199 (roughly €150, AU260), which is consistent with previous rumors and would go some way to help counter criticism against the high price of the speaker. This is a report that should, however, be taken with a handful of salt. The first report of a Mini HomePod. In March 2018, just a month after the release of the HomePod, the Economic Daily newspaper announced that Apple planned to release a more affordable HomePod sometime in 2018. Rumor has it that this cheaper HomePod will launch in the United States in the second mid-2018 for about €200 (roughly £145), which is significantly lower than the current price of the device, €349 / GBP 319. In this report, the way Apple was considering lowering the price of its speaker was not clear, but a newer, smaller Apple HomePod Mini might be one way to do it.