Why Waiting Is the Best Strategy for Apple's HomePod Mini
The HomePod mini offers excellent smart speaker features for Apple users at $99, but a new model is reportedly on the horizon for 2026, making now a poor time to purchase.
The HomePod mini serves as Apple's affordable $99 smart speaker, featuring a compact round design, an S5 processor, 360-degree audio, and a U1 chip. It integrates seamlessly with Apple devices, offering native Apple Music support, HomeKit connectivity, and an audio handoff experience that rival devices from Amazon and Google simply cannot match.
Despite its impressive features and remarkably big sound for its size, the HomePod mini shows its age after more than four years on the market. The compact speaker is not suitable for larger spaces or audiophiles, leaving those users to consider the larger $299 full-sized HomePod for better audio quality.
Rumors indicate that a new HomePod mini model is nearly ready for a 2026 release, which means consumers should hold off on buying the current version. With an update seemingly just around the corner, purchasing the existing speaker right now is not a wise financial decision for prospective buyers.