Apple is preparing to release HomePod 27.2 software, currently available to developers and public beta testers, which will bring some of the HomePod Mini 2's new features to older speakers. According to ZDNET, citing MacRumors, the update could launch as soon as next week.
Eligibility varies by model. The original HomePod only gains Lock Controls, which disables the touch panel, while the HomePod Mini (1st gen) receives Lock Controls and the Sound Glow RGB light display. The HomePod (2nd gen) gets the most, including Mac audio output and a four-speaker home theater configuration when paired with the fourth-gen Apple TV 4K. The original HomePod is excluded from Sound Glow and advanced audio features due to its older LED display and networking hardware, and the first-gen Mini cannot support persistent audio streams from Apple TV 4K or Mac.
The move signals that Apple sees software support as a way to keep users inside its ecosystem. Only the HomePod Mini 2, powered by the S10 processor, will get Siri AI. But by expanding multi-speaker and Mac audio features to existing models, Apple encourages customers to build fuller whole-home setups without replacing every speaker. The company also benefits from an environmental angle: longer-lasting devices reduce e-waste, and Apple's unified operating system and higher-end hardware make extended software support possible.