A quiet shift is happening in the world of smart speakers. One of the biggest retailers, B&H, has unexpectedly listed the current HomePod mini as “Discontinued,” igniting speculation about Apple’s plans.
The move is puzzling, as Apple itself continues to sell the HomePod mini directly through its website, with all five colors currently in stock and available for immediate delivery or in-store pickup. This discrepancy creates a fascinating contradiction – a product declared dead by one major seller, yet very much alive according to its creator.
B&H’s labeling is unusual; no other Apple products appear to carry the same “Discontinued” tag. It’s unclear whether this was a simple error or a deliberate signal, but it’s certainly raised eyebrows within the tech community.
The situation extends beyond B&H. Other retailers are exhibiting subtle signs of dwindling stock. Target and Verizon are showing limited color availability, while Adorama, Walmart, and Staples appear to have completely cleared out their HomePod mini inventory.
This widespread scarcity strongly suggests a winding down of production, a common precursor to the launch of a new model. The timing is particularly intriguing, coinciding with reports of a retail store “event” scheduled for today, November 12th, involving overnight display changes.
The original HomePod mini debuted in 2020 and hasn’t seen a major update since a color refresh in 2021. Given the five-year gap between the first and second generation full-size HomePods – a period that even included a complete absence of the product – a successor to the mini is long anticipated.
Rumors are swirling not only about a new HomePod mini, but also a refreshed Apple TV 4K. The convergence of these signals points towards a potential unveiling of updated home entertainment products from Apple in the very near future.
While the extent of the upgrades remains unknown, anticipation is building for a second-generation HomePod mini that could truly redefine the smart speaker experience.
