Apple TV and HomePod mini Refreshes Are Nearly Ready, Delayed by Siri Setbacks [Report]

Hardware updates for the Apple TV and HomePod mini have been sitting finished for months, waiting on delayed software to finally make their public debut.



According to the latest newsletter from Mark Gurman, both products have been hardware-complete for months and are already being used by employees at Apple's headquarters in Cupertino. Their delayed debut is largely tied to the rocky development of Apple's next generation of artificial intelligence.


Apple intentionally held these hardware refreshes back so they could launch in tandem with the highly anticipated Siri and Apple Intelligence updates. Those software features have faced significant development hurdles and are now scheduled for a fall release.

The HomePod mini's primary change will be an internal upgrade. The current model relies on the S5 chip, which debuted seven years ago. Gurman says the new model, code-named B525, will support Apple's new AI features through an upgraded processor.

Changes to the Apple TV set-top box will be similarly focused on the inside. Gurman says the new model will look largely identical to the current version, utilizing an industrial design that has remained mostly unchanged since 2010. The main upgrade will be a newer processor to replace the five-year-old A15 chip currently in use. There is also a possibility the Siri Remote could receive a minor internal refresh, though the overall design is expected to stay the same.

Apple's home accessory lineup has seen relatively few hardware updates in recent years as the company has focused on developing new products. Apple is developing a dedicated smart home hub featuring a screen and facial recognition, though that device was also delayed until the fall alongside the company's broader Siri and AI efforts.