Apple has revamped its smart home product lineup. While the "Apple HomeView" smart home hub, with its attractive appearance reminiscent of a miniature classic iMac (though its domestic release is yet to be determined), will be covered in a separate article, this piece will focus on the "HomePod mini 2" and "Apple TV 4K," both of which will be released in Japan.
"HomePod mini 2" Now Capable of 4-Speaker Surround Sound
First up is the "HomePod mini 2," marking its second generation after a six-year renewal. Priced at ¥24,800, it will be released on Friday, October 30, with pre-orders already underway.
A significant audio advancement is the 4-speaker surround sound system, achievable by combining four HomePod mini 2 / HomePod units, primarily centered around the latest 4th-generation Apple TV 4K (detailed later). The HomePod mini 2 features the "Apple S10" chip, also found in the Apple Watch Series 10, which recognizes the position of each speaker in the room. It automatically adjusts the sound, promising an immersive audio experience.
It also supports use as a speaker for Mac. Available in five vibrant colors—White, Pink, Green, Blue, and Midnight—it can be matched with your Mac. The top of the unit features a "SandGlow" function that reacts in real-time to bass and treble during playback, brightening or flashing to create a pleasant ambiance.
It also functions as a smart home hub. In addition to controlling the concurrently announced smart home cameras and doorbells, it features voice recognition that can detect alarm sounds and notify the user's iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch.
"Apple TV 4K" Gets Performance Boost with Same CPU as iPhone 17
Next up is the 4th-generation "Apple TV 4K." Priced at ¥49,800, it will be released on Friday, November 13, with pre-orders already open.
Equipped with the A19 chip, also found in the iPhone 17, it boasts up to 50% higher CPU performance and up to twice the GPU performance compared to the previous generation, resulting in improved responsiveness. A major selling point is its compatibility with the aforementioned 4-speaker surround sound system. The new remote now supports "Precision Finding" via the "Find My" app and can be quickly located by playing a sound, even when it's not immediately at hand. This new remote is also compatible with existing Apple TV HD / Apple TV 4K models and can be purchased separately.
