HomePod rumors: All we know about HomePod mini 2, HomePod Touch & HomePad hub

HomePod mini 2: Rumors & release date

• Rumored release: Early 2026
• Possible changes: New red color, major processor upgrade, improved connectivity

Apple introduced the original HomePod mini in November 2020, making it long overdue for an update.

Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman had indicated that a new HomePod mini could arrive toward the end of 2025. In an August 2025 newsletter, referencing Apple code that briefly appeared, and was then withdrawn, he wrote: “The findings corroborate a lot of what I’ve reported, including that fresh Apple TV and HomePod mini models will arrive this fall.”

Obviously there was no new HomePod (or Apple TV) in 2025. But there could be soon. Current rumors point to an early 2026 release, with delays attributed to ongoing software development challenges related to Siri and Apple Intelligence.

HomePod mini 2: Design

• New red color option rumored.

In September 2025, Gurman reported that Apple had tested a new red color option for the HomePod mini 2. Beyond cosmetic changes, the update is expected to focus primarily on internal improvements.

The overall design is likely to remain largely unchanged, but the internal hardware is expected to receive a meaningful refresh. The HomePod mini has not seen a hardware update since its debut, and Apple is reportedly keen to modernize it to support upcoming software features.

HomePod mini 2: New features & specs

The most consistent rumors point to a faster processor and improved connectivity. As Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman noted in August 2025: “We don’t know what, if anything, will be new with the speaker other than a faster chip, though Apple will likely keep the same design.”

The expectation is that the new HomePod mini 2 will get a much faster chip, possibly the S9, S10 or even the S11 – all a big improvement on the current S5 chip.

Wi-Fi 6E support is also expected, a notable upgrade from the current HomePod mini’s older Wi-Fi standard.

Upgraded Ultra Wideband is also likely, which would improve interactions like Handoff (transferring the playing track between Apple devices).

Additional rumored upgrades include:

• Apple Intelligence Support: The new model is expected to feature a chip capable of supporting Apple Intelligence, which would allow it to benefit from Apple’s upcoming AI-enhanced Siri. However, it’s not guaranteed that there will be support for Apple Intelligence and the upgraded Siri at launch.
• Improved Connectivity: Possible inclusion of Apple’s in-house N1 networking chip, potential Wi-Fi 6E support, and an upgraded U2 Ultra Wideband (UWB) chip for more seamless Handoff functionality.
• Audio Enhancements: Some reports indicate the speaker could receive upgraded drivers for better sound quality and potentially official support for spatial audio/Dolby Atmos, a feature currently restricted to the full-sized HomePod. See: Five upgrades the HomePod mini needs.
• Hardware Refinements: There is also speculation that Apple might introduce a removable power cable, similar to the 2nd-gen HomePod, to improve repairability.

HomePod 3 with screen: Rumors & release date of HomePod Touch

Foundry and Apple

• Possible launch: early to mid 2026
• Display size: Touchscreen 6 and 7-inches
• Software: Custom touchscreen operating system running apps like Weather, Calendar, Photos, HomeKit as well as Apple Music

The HomePod mini has a larger sibling and even bigger things are rumored for that model.

One of the HomePod’s biggest limitations is its reliance on Siri, which still struggles with complex commands. Many users end up controlling the speaker via their iPhone instead, which can be inconvenient and drain battery life. A built-in screen could provide a more direct and reliable way to interact with the device.

There has long been speculation Apple is working on a HomePod with a built-in display, which could be called HomePod Touch. This device is expected to feature a 6-7-inch touchscreen that would allow the HomePod to function as a smart hub with apps and visuals in addition a smart speaker.

This new HomePod would run homeOS or a similar touch-optimized UI for apps like Weather, Calendar, Photos, Apple Music, and HomeKit.

Apple has been working redesigning the HomePod to include a display for some time. Back in March 2023, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claimed Apple would “unveil a redesigned HomePod featuring a 7-inch panel.” Kuo initially expected this product to arrive in the first half of 2024, but that timeline slipped. In December 2024, he reported further delays had pushined the launch to after WWDC 2025, citing software development challenges. Then, in March 2025, Kuo suggested the device had been delayed again, due to Apple Intelligence setbacks.

Current speculation suggests a possible release in the first half of 2026, however, that could slip further as the major updates to Siri and Apple’s AI platform have been further delayed. Alternatively, the HomePod Touch may gain AI related features as part of a later software update.

Foundry

HomePod Touch: Features & specs

As with the HomePod mini 2, the touchscreen HomePod is expected to feature a chip capable of supporting the AI-enhanced Siri, but it will also need to support a custom touchscreen operating system, possibly derived from tvOS. Given the demands of such a touchscreen interface and advanced software, this would likely mean A-series or even M-series silicon, possibly an A17 Pro.

Rather than just being a speaker with a screen, it is thought the device will be a central smart home controller with enhanced HomeKit and Matter device control, potentially rivalling Google Nest Hub and Amazon Echo Show devices.

Other expected features include:

• Specs: Apple’s N1 networking chip, Wi-Fi 6E support, and an upgraded U2 Ultra Wideband chip for improved device handoff.
• Modular design: Some rumors point to a modular design, where a screen-based hub could magnetically dock onto a full-size HomePod speaker. This could allow the device to function as a stationary high-fidelity speaker while also supporting FaceTime calls and smart home management.
• Display: The display is widely rumored to measure around 7-inches, putting it in direct competition with smart displays from Amazon and Google.

Ben Patterson/Foundry

HomePod Touch: Design

Unlike current HomePods, which rely on a small LED surface for controls and animations, this model is expected to feature a 7-inch full display capable of showing useful information and acting as a touchscreen control interface.

Some time ago Swiss website Handy Abovergleich and designer Eric Huismann created a series of concept illustrations of how this new generation of HomePod could look. Here’s how they imagine the HomePod Show—a speaker with a camera and a small touchscreen—could look.

Foundry

However, this updated HomePod could offer a lot more than a screen to tap when you want to choose a playlist or skip a track. There are rumors that suggest putting a screen on HomePod could transform it into a new device entirely.

HomePad smart hub rumors & release date

• Possible launch: Late 2026
• Strategy: Brand new category of products

Apple has reportedly been exploring a broader smart home strategy for years, and the HomePad could be its most ambitious step yet.

As far back as April 2021, Mark Gurman described a high-end device combining a HomePod speaker, a touchscreen, and a camera mounted on a robotic arm that could follow the user around the room during video calls. Gurman has made various references to this over the years.

Reports suggest Apple may be planning multiple smart home hub products, potentially split into two tiers:

• Low-end smart display (J490): A stationary device with an approximately 7-inch screen, designed for wall mounting or docking. It would focus on HomeKit control and FaceTime calls.
• High-end robotic hub (J595): A more advanced version featuring a display mounted on a robotic arm. This “Luxo Jr.-like” device could function as a videoconferencing system and home security tool, though it may not arrive until late 2026 or even 2027.

A revamped, AI-powered Siri is expected to be central to the experience – and its ongoing development is widely believed to be the main reason these products have yet to launch.

Imagen 3 (Gemini)

HomePad smart hub: Design, features & specs

Speculation regarding the HomePad’s internal specifications and software capabilities includes:

• Processing Power: Internal code suggests the device, codenamed J490, may be powered by the A18 chip, which is capable of supporting advanced Apple Intelligence features.
• Operating System: The hub will likely run a version of TVos that incorporates iOS-like features. For instance, the inclusion of the “ChatKit” framework in recent software betas suggests the HomePad may support iMessage and texting, features not currently available on Apple TV or standard HomePods.
• Kitchen Integration: A new “CookingKit” framework and expanded food sections in Apple News indicate that kitchen assistance, such as searching for recipes by ingredient, could be a primary selling point.
• Entertainment: Beyond home control, the device is expected to function as an entertainment hub for streaming music and video, as well as making FaceTime calls via a built-in camera.
• Advanced Home Control: Code found in the iOS 26 Home app describes an “Adaptive Temperature” feature, which could allow the HomePad to offer more granular control over smart thermostats, including energy-saving optimizations based on local electricity rates.
• Camera: There are suggestions that the device could combines a HomePod with a camera, or place a camera on a robot arm. This camera could also be used to recognize gestures. Some years ago a patent was filed that related to a future HomePod that could interpret 3D hand gestures. That patent describes a HomePod that can “interpret three-dimensional hand gestures as a means of controlling the device so as to execute an action or function.”

New HomePod prices

The current prices for the HomePods are as follows:

• HomePod: $299/£299
• HomePod mini: $99/£99

We don’t expect prices to change for the existing configurations. The HomePod mini is likely to remain at the sub-$100 price point.

However, a HomePod with a built-in screen could command a higher price. It may launch as a separate product altogether, potentially starting around $399 / £399, or higher, depending on features.