Apple’s extensive product roadmap for smart home: This is coming up
According to the rumor mill, Apple is planning a comprehensive renewal of its smart home portfolio for autumn 2026. At the center is the HomePod mini 2 with improved artificial intelligence. The update is intended to make voice control easier in everyday life.
AI focus for the new HomePod
A powerful S9 chip is intended to remedy the previous weaknesses of the voice assistant Siri in natural language processing. This means that complex commands and follow-up questions can be processed in the smart home without delay in the future. In addition to the main processor, the manufacturer integrates an N1 chip for precise wireless connections. This includes support for Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 as well as optimized thread technology for fast response times. The new components also ensure clearer voices and deeper bass in audio playback.
Visually, the compact housing remains the same, but could be supplemented with a red color variant. The first HomePod mini was released in 2020. Since then, many competitors have continuously updated their speakers, which is why Apple now has to follow suit. The new components are intended to close the gap on the market.
Apple’s big smart home plans
As 9to5Mac reports, the smart speaker is just the beginning of a comprehensive strategy. At the same time, a new Apple TV 4K with the A17 Pro processor is set to come onto the market. The price for the current HomePod mini is 139 euros. It is still unclear whether the company will maintain this price for the second generation.
Between October 2026 and early 2027, Apple plans to release a smart home hub with an integrated seven-inch screen. This device runs the new homeOS operating system. The planned hub combines FaceTime calls and home control in a common interface. Such displays have been used successfully by other manufacturers for years.
Cameras and robotic arm in progress
In the long term, Apple is venturing into its own surveillance cameras and video doorbells in order to supply not only the software but also the appropriate devices. Even a premium display with a nine-inch screen and a movable robotic arm is reportedly in development. These innovations offer users clear advantages in building a seamlessly closed ecosystem.
