Apple is preparing for a significant update to its home automation devices this autumn, integrating advanced Siri AI features into the HomePod mini and Apple TV 4K, alongside development of a new smart home hub and accessories.
Apple is preparing a wider refresh of its home range after years of limited change, with the current HomePod mini and Apple TV model lines now several years old. The expected upgrades are being shaped by Apple’s renewed push on Siri AI, which has been the main reason new home hardware has taken longer to arrive. According to reporting from 9to5Mac and MacRumors, the first wave of updates is likely to land this autumn.
The HomePod mini is expected to remain broadly familiar in design, but with a meaningful internal update. MacRumors says Apple is likely to replace the ageing S5 chip with an S9, or a later equivalent, which would give the speaker more headroom for computational audio and assistant features. There is also talk of new colour options, a newer wireless chip and small audio improvements. The key change, however, is likely to be Siri AI support, which would make the compact speaker far more capable than the current model.
Apple TV 4K is also due for an update, with reports pointing to an A17 Pro chip replacing the present A15 Bionic. MacRumors notes that the A17 Pro is built on a 3-nanometre process and supports hardware-accelerated ray tracing and AV1 decoding, while also meeting Apple Intelligence requirements. That would not make the set-top box cutting edge by phone standards, but it would still be a substantial step up for gaming, media playback and local AI features. A revised remote has also been mentioned in some reporting.
Pricing may be a more sensitive issue. Apple currently sells the HomePod mini from $129 and the Apple TV 4K from $199, after June price increases. There is no firm indication that those figures will change with the next hardware cycle.
Beyond those imminent releases, Apple is working on its first dedicated smart home hub, a product that has been in development for some time. 9to5Mac reports two variants: a wall-mounted version and a model with a speaker base similar to Google Nest Hub. The device, often referred to as HomePad, is expected to use a 7-inch square display, run a new internal software platform called homeOS and use an A18 chip to support FaceTime, Siri AI and smart home control. The timing remains less certain, with launch window estimates stretching from October into early next year.
A refreshed full-size HomePod is also believed to be in development, though its launch window is unclear. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has reported that Apple is planning a new version with a more modern chip to support Siri AI in some form. Further out, Apple is said to be building its own smart home accessories, including a security camera and a doorbell, and a more advanced tabletop robot version of its smart display with a larger 9-inch screen and a robotic arm.
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