Brijesh Desai 
Apple delays Apple TV 4K and HomePod mini 2 until this fall due to ongoing Siri AI feature delays. The new devices have been ready since late 2025 but are waiting for iOS 26.5 or iOS 27 with personalized Siri, expected in September 2026.
Apple delays Apple TV and HomePod mini until this fall, with Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reporting that both the Apple TV 4K (2026) and HomePod mini 2 have been “ready” since last year but are being held back until Apple’s upgraded personalized Siri features are released.
Why the delay?
The real reason for the delay is Siri’s ongoing AI feature delays. Apple originally planned to introduce the refreshed Apple TV and HomePod mini alongside the new personalized Siri experience, but the AI features have been repeatedly delayed.
Timeline of Siri delays:
- March 2025: Original expected launch date for new Siri AI features
- March 2026: New target launch with iOS 26.4
- iOS 26.5: Features pushed to this version (May 2026)
- iOS 27: Some features may now wait for this version (September 2026)
According to Gurman, the Apple TV and HomePod devices are “just waiting for Siri” — they could have launched last year, but Apple wants the new Apple Intelligence and Siri features working in those products first.
Expected launch window
The new devices are expected to launch between May and September 2026, with fall 2026 being the most likely timeframe:
If the new Apple TV and HomePod mini models are tied to iOS 27’s Siri upgrades, they could launch at the September iPhone event.
What’s new in Apple TV 4K (2026)?
The upcoming Apple TV 4K is expected to feature:
- Processor: Likely A17 Pro or A18 chip (significant upgrade from current A12 Bionic)
- AI Feature: On-device Siri actions with Apple Intelligence
- Siri Remote: Possible refresh with new features
- Current model: Debuted in October 2022 (over 3 years old)
What’s new in HomePod mini 2?
The next-gen HomePod mini is expected to include:
- Chip: Apple Watch’s S9 chip or newer S10 Silicon
- AI Feature: Personalized context with upgraded Siri
- Current model: Introduced in October 2020 (over 5 years old!)
Three Apple smart home devices delayed
According to Gurman, four new Apple products are ready to launch but waiting on Siri:
- New Apple TV 4K ✅ Ready
- HomePod mini 2 ✅ Ready
- HomePod 3 (full-sized) ✅ Ready
- ‘HomePad’ or ‘HomePod Touch’ (smart display) ✅ Ready — “sitting in warehouses”
The HomePad smart display faced a big delay because of Siri functionality, with devices reportedly sitting in warehouses waiting for the software to be ready.
Inventory running low
Gurman notes that inventory of the current Apple TV, HomePod mini, and full-sized HomePod is once again “running low” at Apple’s retail stores around the world. This could signal that Apple is preparing to launch the new models soon, though it’s unclear if this is intentional or just supply chain dynamics.
Bottom line
Apple delays Apple TV and HomePod mini until this fall because the devices are ready to launch but waiting for Siri. Apple wants to debut the hardware alongside the personalized Siri experience powered by Apple Intelligence, which is now expected in iOS 26.5 (May) or iOS 27 (September).
For consumers, that means:
- Apple TV 4K (2026): Launch May–September 2026
- HomePod mini 2: Launch late 2026
- HomePod 3: Fall 2026
- HomePad smart display: Fall 2026
If you’re waiting for these devices, expect them this fall at the earliest. The current models are due for upgrades — the Apple TV hasn’t been updated since 2022, and the HomePod mini hasn’t changed since 2020