HomePod Mini With Updated Chip Coming Soon

Apple is working on a refreshed version of the HomePod mini, and it will have an updated processor that's based on the S-series chips inside the Apple Watch Series 9, Apple Watch Series 10, and the upcoming Apple Watch Series 11.

yellow homepod mini image
A reference to a ‌HomePod mini‌ equipped with a chip that uses T8310 microarchitecture was discovered in Apple code by MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris. The device has a B525 codename, which likely corresponds to the next-generation ‌HomePod mini‌, since the current model's codename is B520.

The existing S9 and S10 chips in the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Series 10 have T8310 cores, and we're expecting the S11 in the Apple Watch Series 11 to use the same technology.

The current version of the ‌HomePod mini‌ has an S5 chip that was originally developed for the Apple Watch. Since the reference in the code is to the T8310 processor and the S9, S10, and S11 all use it, we don't know if Apple will call the chip the S9, S10, or S11.

Since the ‌HomePod mini‌ is expected to launch in late 2025, it would make sense for Apple to equip it with the S11 chip that will also be in the Apple Watch Series 11 and Apple Watch Ultra 3. The chip that's expected for the ‌HomePod mini‌ 2 will be a good deal faster than the S5. It features a 64-bit dual-core processor that's based on the A16, and a 4-core Neural Engine.

We don't know much about the ‌HomePod mini‌ 2 aside from the fact that it's going to get an updated chip, but rumors have suggested that it will also feature a new Apple-designed Wi-Fi and Bluetooth combo chip with Wi-Fi 6E support. New color options are also a possibility.

Apple could introduce the ‌HomePod mini‌ 2 any time from September to December.

Related Roundup: HomePod mini

Popular Stories

iOS 26 Battery Glass Feature

iPhone 16 Pro Max 80% Charge Limit: One Year Later, Was It Worth It?

Wednesday September 24, 2025 3:58 pm PDT by
With the iPhone 15 series, I did an experiment and kept my iPhone's Charge Limit set at 80 percent for an entire year. It provided an interesting look at the impact of charge limits on battery longevity, so I decided to repeat it for the iPhone 16 line. Since September 2024, my iPhone 16 Pro Max has been limited to an 80 percent charge, with no cheating. As of today, my battery's maximum...
Home Hub Command Center with Dome Base Feature

Apple Working on All-New Operating System

Thursday September 25, 2025 1:11 pm PDT by
Apple is developing an all-new operating system codenamed "Charismatic," according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Apple smart home hub concept based on rumors This is likely Apple's long-rumored "homeOS" operating system. In a report last month, Gurman said both Apple's rumored smart home hub in 2026 and tabletop robot in 2027 will run the new operating system. He said the software platform ...
AirPods Pro 3 Newsroom

Apple's 'Back to School' Offer Ends Soon, Now Applies to AirPods Pro 3

Wednesday September 24, 2025 7:20 am PDT by
Apple's annual "Back to School" promotion for students ends soon, so act fast if you want to score free AirPods with the purchase of an eligible new Mac or iPad. Until Tuesday, September 30, college students and qualifying educational staff in the U.S. can receive free AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation when they purchase an eligible new Mac or iPad from Apple. This is a $179 value. ...
iPhone 17 Pro Colors

Skipped the iPhone 17 Pro? Here's What is Rumored for iPhone 18 Pro

Tuesday September 23, 2025 8:55 am PDT by
While the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are still a year away, there are already a few rumors about the devices that offer an early look ahead. Below, we have recapped some of the early iPhone 18 Pro rumors so far. This story was published previously, and it has been updated to reflect the latest rumors. Many early rumors prove to be true, but nothing is confirmed yet, and Apple's...
iOS 26

iOS 26.0.1 Update for iPhones Coming Soon — Here's What to Expect

Thursday September 25, 2025 12:40 pm PDT by
Apple is preparing to release iOS 26.0.1, according to a private account on X with a proven track record of sharing information about future iOS versions. MacRumors has also seen evidence of iOS 26.0.1 in its visitor logs in recent days. It is likely that iOS 26.0.1 will fix a camera-related bug on the new iPhone Air and iPhone 17 Pro models. In his iPhone Air review, CNN Underscored's...
iOS 26

Everything New in iOS 26.1 Beta 1

Monday September 22, 2025 12:44 pm PDT by
Apple released the first beta of iOS 26.1 today, just a week after launching iOS 26. iOS 26.1 mainly adds new languages to Apple Intelligence, but there are a few other features that are worth knowing about. New Apple Intelligence Languages Apple Intelligence is now available in Danish, Dutch, Norwegian, Portuguese (Portugal), Swedish, Turkish, Chinese (Traditional), and Vietnamese. AirPo...
apple tv 4k new orange

Next Apple TV Expected to Launch This Year With These New Features

Monday September 22, 2025 10:00 am PDT by
The next Apple TV is expected to be released later this year, and a handful of new features and changes have been rumored for the device. Below, we recap what to expect from the next Apple TV, according to rumors. Likely Features N1 Chip With Wi-Fi 7 Last year, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said the next Apple TV would be equipped with Apple's own combined Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip, which is...
Apple More Personal Siri Ad

Apple Responds to U.S. Class Action Lawsuit Over Delayed Siri Features

Friday September 26, 2025 6:57 am PDT by
In March, Apple delayed the launch of its personalized Siri features, and soon after the company was hit with multiple class action lawsuits over the situation. The plaintiffs said they never would have purchased an iPhone 16, or would have paid less, had they known Apple's marketing about the Siri features was false. In the U.S., all of the complaints were consolidated into one class...

Top Rated Comments

mac-hummer Avatar
6 weeks ago
[TABLE]
[TR]
[TH]Feature[/TH]

[TH]Current HomePod mini (B520)[/TH]

[TH]Expected HomePod mini 2 (B525)[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Chip[/TD]

[TD]S5 (based on Apple Watch Series 5)[/TD]

[TD]Likely S11 (based on A16, T8310 microarchitecture)[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]CPU[/TD]

[TD]64-bit dual-core, older generation[/TD]

[TD]64-bit dual-core, newer generation, much faster[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Neural Engine[/TD]

[TD]None[/TD]

[TD]4-core Neural Engine[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Wi-Fi[/TD]

[TD]Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n)[/TD]

[TD]Wi-Fi 6E[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Bluetooth[/TD]

[TD]Bluetooth 5.0[/TD]

[TD]New Apple-designed Bluetooth/Wi-Fi combo chip[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Audio Processing[/TD]

[TD]Good computational audio[/TD]

[TD]Faster processing, improved AI-driven enhancements[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Color Options[/TD]

[TD]White, Space Gray, Blue, Yellow, Orange[/TD]

[TD]Existing + possible new colors[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Launch Date[/TD]

[TD]November 2020[/TD]

[TD]Expected Sep–Dec 2025[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Radeon85 Avatar
6 weeks ago
I’m just looking forward to onboard processing of basic Siri commands for much faster response times instead of sending every damn request over the Internet, this was the best feature added to the Ultra 2, and it made a massive difference to response times. A new, updated mini is very long overdue.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Gengar Avatar
6 weeks ago
If they don’t improve Siri, it won’t be worth the upgrade.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TVreporter Avatar
6 weeks ago
Knowing Apple they’ll make them incompatible with version 1.

I’ve got several and they are fine. If the audio quality is improved I’ll consider upgrading.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Admiral Fart Avatar
6 weeks ago
Maybe it’s just me, but I hate using voice assistants for music. It’s not just that Siri is useless, I don’t like the superior voice assistant platforms, either. It’s just easier to use a visual interface. I can search Apple Music on my iPad faster than I can say “Hey Siri, play Crazy Train by Ozzy Osbourne on Apple Music”. Even if Siri gets it right (which is a big if), what if I want one of the many live versions instead? Then I have to add the album name, but what if I don’t know the album name? An iPad and a dumb Bluetooth speaker is just the superior option.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
russell_314 Avatar
6 weeks ago

All I’m asking is that they fix it to work with song titles. I was trying to listen to “International Players Anthem” by UGK yesterday, and Siri played “Big Pimpin’” featuring UGK instead, all because the title on Apple Music is stylized as “Int’l Players Anthem.” It’s a problem with songs stylized in all caps too. It took forever for Siri to understand “CUFF IT” (by Beyoncé) was not “CUFF I.T.” Siri is just all around a terrible assistant.
At least you got a similar song. I’ve asked Siri to play a song and she decides to play a totally different genre of music.

I don’t think anything Apple says seriously when it comes to Siri I remember when they said it was going to be more capable offline. That means it doesn’t need to ask Apple servers the answer to everything.

Here’s an example of what happens when you disconnect Siri from the mothership. She goes from barely capable to I don’t know my name anymore.




Attachment Image
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)