Apple Prepares Apple TV and HomePod Mini Refresh With Siri AI Focus
Apple is expected to unveil new Apple TV 4K and HomePod mini models, with preorders possibly starting this week and devices arriving later in October. The refresh is seen as a way to bring updated Siri AI into homes, though Apple's wearables, home, and accessories segment has shrunk for three straight years. The bigger financial question is whether the hardware can support Apple's growing Services business rather than materially lift total revenue on its own.
Apple's rumored launch timing points to an Oct. 13 reveal and Oct. 30 retail availability, with preorders possibly beginning this week. Gurman expects the Apple TV 4K to use an A19 chip and the HomePod mini an S10, while a separate HomeView hub may arrive in mid-November. The current HomePod mini launched in October 2020.
The home and wearables unit has contracted for three fiscal years, falling from $41.24B in FY2022 to $35.69B in FY2025. Services, by contrast, grew from $68.43B in FY2021 to $109.16B in FY2025, reaching 26.2% of sales.
If Siri AI performs well, households could gain more capable voice control across televisions and speakers, and Apple may strengthen ties to its Services bundle. Sonos, Amazon, and Google could face tougher competition for the same smart-home spaces. Consumers may see incremental benefits rather than a dramatic shift, since this hardware refresh is unlikely to move Apple's total revenue much. The effects may be most noticeable for existing Apple users, smart-home buyers, and rivals competing on assistant quality and price.