Apple’s HomePod products were largely absent from the company’s WWDC announcements this week, but there are two improvements coming in iOS 27—with more set to be unveiled this fall.
iOS 27 improves AirPlay and adds AutoMix to HomePods
If you’re a HomePod user, iOS 27 isn’t the most exciting update—at least not yet.
So far, Apple has only confirmed two ways the HomePod will get better with its OS 27 versions.
- AutoMix for Apple Music
- Faster AirPlay connections from iPhone
AutoMix is an Apple Music feature that launched in iOS 26 last year for DJ-style transitions between songs. But HomePod was left out, limited to the older Crossfade feature.
Now with iOS 27 and HomePod 27, Apple says that the HomePod will gain the full AutoMix experience.
Additionally, in highlighting performance improvements and refinements in iOS 27, Apple listed the following on a WWDC slide:
Faster AirPlay connections to Apple TV and HomePod
These two changes are nice to have, but rumors indicate there are bigger HomePod upgrades coming that won’t be revealed until this fall.
Siri AI expected to come to HomePod via new hardware
Rumors have long indicated that Apple has a new HomePod and HomePod mini launching soon.
They were originally expected late last year, but Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reported the products were pushed back due to delays with Siri’s AI overhaul.
Now, expectations are that Apple will hold these products until the fall, when Siri AI launches to all users.
Currently, all signs indicate that we’ll get a HomePod 3 and HomePod mini 2 in or near September, and iOS 27 and HomePod 27 should bring the upgraded Siri AI experience to those devices.
Will Siri AI come to older HomePod hardware? We don’t know, but it seems unlikely.
Do you expect to upgrade to new HomePods this fall to get Siri AI support? Why or why not? Let us know in the comments.
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