Apple’s HomePod mini set a milestone today, marking the 2,000th day since its introduction in October 2020, representing an unusually long lifespan for an Apple product without receiving a second-generation update. Apple revealed this device during the event announcing the iPhone 12 lineup, to stand as a smaller and more economical alternative compared to the original version, as it was launched at a price of only $99 with the start of pre-orders in November of the same year.
This version was designed to be a smart speaker aimed at the mass market that can be distributed throughout the home at a relatively low cost, unlike the original version, which focused on providing an excellent audio experience at a higher cost. The device features a compact spherical design that allows 360-degree sound distribution while providing a wonderful audio experience that seamlessly integrates with Siri voice assistant functions to control smart home devices.
The device runs on the S5 chip used in the fifth edition of the Apple Watch and includes a full-range audio engine with two passive radiators and an array consisting of four microphones. The device supports Wi-Fi 802.11n, Bluetooth 5.0, and ultra-wideband technology for functions that depend on spatial proximity. Apple contented itself with adding new colors in 2021, which included blue, yellow, and orange without making any real changes to the internal hardware, which makes it one of Apple’s longest-lasting devices without reviewing its specifications.
Expectations are strong towards the launch of a second generation of the device soon, relying on a newer chip that replaces the current S5 chip, which will contribute to improving response speed, raising computational audio performance, and providing sufficient space to operate future Siri features, in addition to the possibility of including a new generation of ultra-wideband chip and the N1 chip for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth networks.
Despite reports indicating that the new version was ready for launch late last year, Apple decided to suspend this step until it launches its more customized version of the Siri assistant later this year. It is expected that this updated assistant will appear within the iOS 27 system, which is expected to be available in its beta version starting next June, before its official launch to all users in September.
