Apple's first-generation HomePod mini will reportedly support Siri AI through a software update later this year, extending the feature beyond the upcoming second-generation model. The detail comes from CNET's Jeff Carlson, although Apple's published information does not explicitly mention Siri AI support for the older speaker.

The update would give owners of the current S5-powered HomePod mini access to the newer Siri experience despite the device having older hardware. Apple has not confirmed the information in the material available so far.

What the Siri AI update could bring

According to Carlson, the original HomePod mini will receive Siri AI compatibility alongside updates to iOS 27.2 later this year. The feature is expected to provide broad world-knowledge answers, more natural conversations and improved music discovery.

Apple also says that a HomePod mini with Siri AI enabled can provide those capabilities even when the user does not have an iPhone or iPad that supports Apple Intelligence. A compatible paired iPhone or iPad is still required to set up Siri AI on the HomePod mini 2, however.

Requests involving a user's personal context will require a paired iPhone or iPad with Apple Intelligence support. That requirement applies to personal information and context, rather than the broader Siri AI functions described by Apple.

How the HomePod mini 2 compares

The HomePod mini 2 is scheduled to launch on Friday, October 30, with pre-orders already available. Its main internal change is an S10 processor, replacing the S5 chip used by the current HomePod mini.

The newer processor is expected to help with processing Siri AI requests, but the reported software support for the first-generation speaker suggests that the S10 chip may not be an absolute requirement for the feature. The original model could therefore gain the updated assistant without a hardware upgrade.

Apple has not listed support for the original model

Apple's fine print does specifically state that Siri AI support for Apple TV 4K will extend to the second-generation model released in 2021. Comparable language has not been found for the first-generation HomePod mini.

That omission means the older speaker's compatibility remains based on the report rather than an official product specification. Apple was contacted for comment, but no response was included in the available information.

If the update arrives as described, existing HomePod mini owners could gain the newer Siri functions without purchasing the HomePod mini 2. Apple will need to clarify the supported features and rollout details before the software update becomes available.