Apple has just unveiled a new version of its HomePod Mini smart speaker in a striking “midnight” colour. This new shade closely resembles the original space gray but aligns with the midnight colour scheme introduced with the second-generation HomePod last year. The midnight HomePod Mini will be available for purchase in India on July 17, priced at Rs 10,990.
Originally launched globally in 2020, the HomePod Mini debuted with just two colour options—space gray and white. In 2021, Apple expanded the colour palette, adding yellow, orange, and blue to the lineup. With this latest addition, Apple also emphasises its commitment to sustainability, stating that the new Mini’s mesh is made from 100 percent recycled materials, an improvement from the previous 90 percent.
The HomePod Mini’s core hardware includes an orb-shaped design, a single full-range driver, dual passive radiators, and four microphones. It supports computational audio and delivers 360-degree sound, ensuring a high-quality listening experience. Users can control the device using Siri voice commands.
Notably, the HomePod Mini is equipped with the same temperature and humidity sensors, identical to those found in the second-generation HomePod. They allow the Mini to trigger smart home automations based on environmental conditions. For example, the HomePod Mini can turn on a fan when the room gets too hot.
In addition to these sensors, the HomePod Mini also supports the Thread wireless protocol. This standard allows devices to connect over longer distances while consuming less power compared to Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
The HomePod Mini and its larger counterpart aren’t expected to feature Apple Intelligence due to their limited memory. Mark Gurman, a noted Apple analyst, has suggested that Apple Intelligence requires at least eight gigabytes of memory, far more than the one gigabyte found in the HomePod models. Therefore, Apple is focusing its advanced AI efforts on entirely new devices.
