Apple unveiled seven new products this week, including the iPhone 17e and MacBook Neo, but new Apple TV and HomePod mini models were notably absent. The delay stems from Apple's ongoing development of a more personalized Siri powered by Apple Intelligence, which was originally planned for release last year but has been pushed back multiple times.

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported that both devices were designed to support the revamped Siri, with the next Apple TV expected to feature the A17 Pro chip - the oldest chip capable of running Apple Intelligence. The HomePod mini is rumored to use an Apple Watch S9 chip or newer, though questions remain about its capability to handle the advanced AI features. Both devices are also expected to include Apple's N1 chip for Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread connectivity.

With Siri features now slated for iOS 26.5 or iOS 27, the new Apple TV and HomePod mini likely won't arrive until April through September 2026. The current Apple TV launched in October 2022, while the HomePod mini debuted in October 2020, making both products overdue for updates. Apple's partnership with Google Gemini to power future Apple Intelligence features suggests the company is still refining its AI strategy before releasing these smart home devices.