APPLE has just unveiled the HomePod mini.
It’s a rival to Amazon’s Alexa speakers and smaller and cheaper than the original HomePod speaker.
Follow our iPhone 12 launch event blog for the latest news and updates…
Apple’s proper HomePod came out way back in 2018, but is expensive at £279 – putting budget buyers off.
The HomePod mini is cheaper.
It only costs $99 in the US and £99 in the UK.
It will also mean Siri can help you out in your home and not just via your iPhone or iPad.
Siri on HomePod mini can tell the difference between voices and be personalised to you.
Apple claims it will provide world class sound and look after your privacy and security.
It provides a 360 sound experience.
It also interacts with iPhones for sound and visual experiences.
Just like Amazon Alexa speakers, it connects to an app.
You can control lots of home features like which lights you want on.
HomePod mini can act like an intercom.
If you speak into it then you can make it send announcements to other connected Apple devices like iPhones, Apple Watches and Car Play.
Apple stressed that your privacy is a top priority and that the device has encryption.
It comes in white and space grey.
You can order it on November 6 and it will start shipping on November 16.
That preorder date applies to the UK and the US as well as Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Spain.
Apple said: “Apple today unveiled HomePod mini, the newest addition to the HomePod family that delivers impressive sound, the intelligence of Siri to get things done, and a smart home experience that offers comfort and convenience without complexity.
“At just 3.3 inches tall, HomePod mini is packed with innovative technologies and advanced software that together enable computational audio to deliver breakthrough audio quality wherever it is placed.”
In other Apple news, eagle-eyed Apple fans spot blurry glimpse of new iPhone 12 on official website hours before launch.
And, Apple over-ear headphones could be coming out in November, according to a famed ‘leaker’.
What are your thoughts on this new HomePod? Let us know in the comments…
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online Tech & Science team? Email us at [email protected]
This post first appeared on Thesun.co.uk