Apple has new models of the Apple TV and HomePod mini “nearly ready to launch,” and is planning for a fall release, according to Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman. Gurman said both devices will be equipped with faster processors that support Siri AI.
Gurman says his sources tell him that Apple plans to kick off a new wave of home products soon with a hub device built around the new Siri AI assistant. Apple also is preparing to release a new TV set-top box and refreshed HomePod mini, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the plans are private.
He says all three devices are nearly ready to launch, with the Cupertino company set to release the new Apple TV and HomePod mini this fall with the home hub arriving between October and early next year.
Gurman said the new Apple TV will share a similar design to today’s model. Earlier rumors claimed the next Apple TV would be equipped with the A17 Pro chip, the oldest chip that offers Apple Intelligence support. Other internal improvements for the revamped set-top box could include Apple’s N1 chip for Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread.
The updated HomePod mini is expected to use an Apple Watch S9 chip or newer, but it may use an improved version of that chip that would offer full support for the new Apple Intelligence-powered Siri. Other features have been rumored for the new smart speaker, including the N1 chip, improved sound quality, a newer Ultra Wideband chip, and a new red color option.
Neither device will receive any major design changes, says Gurman. Gurman previously said he had been told that Apple TV’s Siri Remote may be “refreshed in some form,” but he did not offer any specific details about the internals or the appearance of the rumored accessory.
The current Apple TV 4K and HomePod mini lineup are both growing a bit long in the tooth, as the most recent Apple TV 4K debuted in October 2022, and the HomePod mini hasn’t seen a new model since its October 2020 debut. Gurman previously reported that Apple is delaying the launch of both devices until the more personalized version of Siri is available.
