New Apple TV and HomePod Mini Are Still Missing, Here's Why
Source: MacRumors
Background
Apple this week unveiled seven products, ranging from the iPhone 17e to the MacBook Neo, but new Apple TV and HomePod mini models were not among them.
Siri and Apple Intelligence Delay
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reported that the next Apple TV and HomePod mini would both support the more personalized version of Siri powered by Apple Intelligence. Apple originally aimed to release the revamped Siri last year, but it was pushed back, and the Apple TV and HomePod mini are likely delayed as a result.
Apple and Google announced that Google Gemini will help power future Apple Intelligence features, including a more personalized Siri coming this year. Apple has yet to provide a more specific timeframe, but Gurman reported that the personalized Siri features are currently slated for either iOS 26.5 or iOS 27.
Timeline
- iOS 26.5 – likely released in May, after a beta testing period beginning in April.
- iOS 27 – expected to debut at Apple’s annual developers conference WWDC in June, with a full release to users in September.
Accordingly, the new Apple TV and HomePod mini might not be announced until the April‑September window this year.
Speculation on Hardware
The upcoming devices are expected to include:
- The A17 Pro chip, the oldest chip that supports Apple Intelligence.
- Apple’s N1 chip for Wi‑Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread connectivity.
- A red color option for the HomePod mini.