Apple just tipped to launch Mac Mini M2 and powerful new HomePod

New Mac mini just leaked — what you need to know
(Image credit: Jon Prosser & Ian Zelbo)

Apple is gearing up to launch a whole host of products at its upcoming September event and in the first half of 2023, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. 

After announcing the new MacBook Air 2022 and MacBook Pro 2022 13-inch with the new M2 chip at WWDC this year, Apple is apparently not done with the Macbook lineup just yet. They are reportedly working on new Macs that will be powered by a new M2 Pro chip.

In his latest Power On newsletter, Mark Gurman details additional Macs in Apple’s product roadmap. This includes a new Mac mini 2022 model, which could come with the M2 chip and M2 Pro chips, while the 14-inch MacBook Pro and 16-inch MacBook Pro will apparently have M2 Pro and M2 Max variants available.

Gurman also mentions a new Mac Pro tower with M2 Ultra and "M2 Extreme" chips. The products will apparently “come in much quicker succession than the M1-based Macs did.”

The core of Apple’s new Macs will remain the new and powerful M2 chip and the macOS Ventura that was announced at WWDC 2022.

It seems like M2 is not the only ‘new’ chip from Apple this year, if what Gurman is saying is true  — we could have several sub chips from Apple’s oven each powered to take on a specific product. 

Mac Pro is already the most powerful desktop Mac that Apple sells  — so it is exciting to see what Apple has to offer with high-octane sounding chips like “M2 Ultra” and “M2 Extreme”.

The slew of new chips doesn’t end there. Gurman also claims that Apple is working on the next M3 chip and that we might see it on the 13-inch Macbook Air in 2023. 

Gurman writes, “Apple is also already at work on the M2’s successor, the M3, and the company is planning to use that chip as early as next year with updates to the 13-inch MacBook Air.”

There could also be a 15-inch Macbook Air 2023 and a new 12-inch laptop in the works for next year. 

 A new Apple HomePod 

Yes, that’s the big surprise claim that Gurman made in his newsletter. Apple abruptly discontinued its smart speaker the HomePod in 2021, but now Gurman reports that a new HomePod could be launched by the company. 

According to Gurman, the new HomePod will probably look and sound similar to the HomePod 2018 model. It could feature Apple’s upcoming S8 chip that’s apparently coming to the Apple Watch 8 and it could also have an updated display on the top of the speaker that may include multi-touch functionality.

Apple HomePod

Previous gen Apple HomePod (Image credit: Future)

Currently the only smart speaker with Siri from Apple is the HomePod Mini that retails for $99 and comes with a S5 chip. S8 on the HomePod could mean a whole lot of power and improvement in audio performance, but at the same time it could mean we may not see a new iteration of the HomePod Mini anytime soon.

The HomePod had a price tag of $349 and was one of the most expensive smart speakers around at that time. The HomePod Mini, on the other hand, was more successful as it squeezed some of the best features of the HomePod into a more compact and affordable device.

It’s not clear if the HomePod will launch this year or early next year.

Gurman says Apple is “about to embark on one of the most ambitious periods of new products in its history” with the deluge of products it is going to launch.

TOPICS
Sanjana Prakash
News Editor

Sanjana loves all things tech. From the latest phones, to quirky gadgets and the best deals, she's in sync with it all. Based in Atlanta, she is the news editor at Tom's Guide. Previously, she produced India's top technology show for NDTV and has been a tech news reporter on TV. Outside work, you can find her on a tennis court or sipping her favorite latte in instagrammable coffee shops in the city. Her work has appeared on NDTV Gadgets 360 and CNBC.

Read more
Apple M5 chip render
Apple M5 'high-end' chips may enter mass production in 2025 — here's when it could arrive on MacBook Pro and iPad Pro
MacBook Pro 2023
MacBook Pro tipped for M5 upgrade ahead of iPad Pro — what we know
MacBook Air 15-inch M3
M4 MacBook Air reportedly 'deep' in manufacturing — here's when it could go on sale
MacBook Air 13-inch M3
MacBook Air M4 tipped for imminent arrival — here's when it could launch
iPhone 17 Air concept image
What to expect from Apple in 2025 — iPhone 17, M4 MacBook Air, AirPods Pro 3 and more
MacBook Air vs iPad Pro
Apple MacBook Air M4 and iPad Air upgrades could follow the iPhone SE 4
Latest in Apple Desktops
Apple Mac Studio M4 Max review unit on a desk
Apple Mac Studio M4 Max review: More powerful than ever
Apple Studio Display shown side on with Wheel of Time playing
Apple's next Studio Display tipped to arrive in 2026 — and it'll be brighter than ever
Mac Studio on a desk plugged into a Studio Display
Apple's Studio Display may be getting a welcome Mini LED upgrade
The Mac mini M4 on top of Satechi's new Mac Mini Hub on a desk underneath an Apple Studio Display with a mechanical keyboard on a desk
This brilliant Mac mini M4 accessory fixes the weirdest thing about Apple's tiny computer — and it costs less than $100
Apple Magic Mouse
Apple's next Magic Mouse will reportedly fix its biggest design blunder
Mac mini M4 with a Tom's Guide Cyber Monday deals badge
This Mac mini M4 Cyber Monday deal is almost too good to be true — grab yours before it's too late
Latest in News
A person on a laptop converting a PDF to a DOC
FBI issues warning over free online file converters that infect your PC with malware
The Find my People feature
Android Find My can now track your friends and family — here's how to use it
Foldable iPhone concept image
Are you sitting down? Here’s what the foldable iPhone could cost
Samsung HW-Q990D soundbar
Samsung’s flagship 2024 soundbar just got bricked by a new firmware update — don’t update
A hacker typing quickly on a keyboard
New MassJacker malware is hijacking digital wallets to steal large sums from users
Owen Cooper as Jamie Miller in Adolescence
'Adolescence' is a gripping new Netflix show that's already hit No. 1 — and it’s 100% on Rotten Tomatoes