Apple presents the HomePod mini 2 with the S10 chip and a price increase that takes it to 169 euros

Apple’s most popular smart speaker has received its first major renovation since its arrival on the market in late 2020. The company has launched the HomePod mini 2a device that maintains its recognizable design, but renews its internal hardware to integrate with the brand’s latest innovations, including the fourth-generation Apple TV 4K and the Apple HomeView home automation hub.

Despite its internal renovation, the fact that marks this generation is its price. The speaker goes from the original 99 euros to an official price of 169 euros in the Spanish market, which represents a brutal increase of 70%. This setting moves the device away from that accessible accessory tag.

But, above all, this has a direct impact on those looking for multiple configurations, an aspect that, by the way, improves with this new generation. And a stereo couple now amounts to 338 euroswhile resorting to four units to take advantage of the new surround sound with Apple TV 4K It represents an investment of 676 euros in speakers alone. Absolute madness.

Lights in time with the music with the new Sound Glow surface

In the design section there is fabric to cut. The most notable novelty is Sound Glow. The touch glass top no longer simply displays Siri’s classic circular animation, but transforms into an interactive panel that flashes in real time based on the bass and treble frequencies of the track.

The system extracts the color palette of the album cover being played to create that atmosphere. These effects also apply to the relaxing sounds that HomePod includes, such as the rain effect. The Sound Glow also syncs with them. The fine print of this feature is that to manage this light feature using voice commands, an iPhone with Apple Intelligence enabled is required.

Under the fabric cover, acoustic performance becomes managed by the S10 chip. This processor runs computational audio algorithms to continuously recalibrate the dynamic range and volume of its 360-degree transducer, preventing distortion when the sound is turned up to the limit.

Integration as a fixed Mac speaker

Another feature that expands the capabilities of this device is the ability to be configured as the default speaker for Mac computers. Until now, the link with macOS could have certain delay limitations depending on the application used, but the new model allows you to set a unit or a stereo pair as a direct acoustic output on computers equipped with WiFi 6E or later.

This allows it to work in different scenarios, such as FaceTime video calls, sound editing or watching a movie. Everything, in a way as direct and transparent to the user as if the speaker were connected by cable to the computer. At least that’s what Apple promises.

The device continues to function as a home automation hub thanks to its native Thread and Matter supportcoordinating sensors and locks like those of the new Apple Home Collection. As for availability, the HomePod mini 2 can now be reserved in five finishes: pink, green, blue, white and midnight. Apple has confirmed that it will hit stores next October 30ahead of the rest of Cupertino’s releases by a couple of weeks.