Apple announced HomePod mini 2 on October 13, 2026, opening pre-orders in the U.S. and more than 23 other countries and regions. Its UK release lists a £149 price and availability in stores beginning Friday, October 30.
At a Glance
- Apple takes pre-orders in the U.S. and more than 23 other countries and regions for the new speaker.
- Siri AI will be available later as a free software update, and the UK is on Apple’s English-language list.
- Four-speaker surround sound requires four HomePod mini 2 or HomePod (2nd generation) speakers in matching pairs (front and rear), when paired with the new Apple TV.
- Sound Recognition should not be relied upon in circumstances where you may be harmed or injured, or in high-risk or emergency situations, Apple says of its smoke alarm alerts.
Apple Newsroom’s UK release lists pink, green, blue, white, and midnight finishes. It says the speaker is compatible with HomePod software 27.2. HomePod mini 2 brings together Siri AI, gorgeous new colours, and incredible audio, said Kaiann Drance, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide Home Product Marketing.
Apple has officially announced the HomePod mini 2 🔊 • New S10 chip • Siri AI support • New Sound Glow feature that reacts to music • Four HomePod minis can create surround sound with Apple TV 4K • Works as a Mac speaker • Available in Pink, Green, Blue, White and Midnight • $149 • Launches October 30
— Apple Hub (@theapplehub) October 13, 2026
Siri AI arrives later, with the UK on the list
Apple’s English-language list for Siri AI includes the U.S., Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, and the UK. Siri AI will not be initially available in the EU in iOS or iPadOS, according to Apple’s own footnote.
Apple says Siri requests on HomePod mini 2 can use on-device processing or Private Cloud Compute, which extends the privacy of the device to the cloud.
Mac audio and surround sound carry extra requirements
Apple says the new HomePod mini can serve as a speaker for Mac. Its footnote adds that this feature is supported on all Mac computers with Wi-Fi 6E or later.
The surround setup needs a second purchase. TV box is sold separately. It adds that the new Apple TV is expected to be available starting November 13, a date missing from Apple’s release.
On alerts, Apple’s footnote says Sound Recognition may detect smoke and carbon monoxide alarm sounds and send you notifications when recognised. A notification layered on top of a working smoke detector helps reduce the chance of missing an alarm.
Apple’s release marks the pre-order date, but leaves Siri AI as a future software update. The speaker and the assistant therefore arrive on separate schedules. Only thing customers can do now is to pre-order and wait for the speakers and Siri update to arrive.
