A Smarter Speaker is on the Way Apple is preparing a significant upgrade for its smallest smart speaker, the HomePod mini, according to a new leak. Internal codenames suggest the next version will be powered by a chip based on the same architecture found in recent Apple Watch models, a move that could bring major improvements to its processing power, audio features, and Siri performance.
From S5 to a New Core The current HomePod mini runs on the S5 chip, which first debuted in the Apple Watch Series 5. The leak indicates the new model, codenamed B525, will use a processor built on the T8310 architecture. This is the same foundation used for the S9 chip, which features a more powerful dual-core CPU and a 4-core Neural Engine.
What a Faster Chip Means This upgrade would have a direct impact on the user experience. A faster CPU would make the device more responsive, while the significantly more powerful Neural Engine would allow for more on-device processing. This could lead to faster Siri responses, improved computational audio for better sound quality, and the ability to handle more complex smart home commands with lower latency.
Part of an Ecosystem-Wide Brain Boost The smarter HomePod mini is just one example of a broader trend revealed in the leak. Apple is systematically upgrading the processing power across its entire product line, from the Apple TV to the entry-level iPad. This focus on silicon ensures that every device, no matter how small, has the intelligence and performance needed to contribute to a seamless and powerful ecosystem.