In summary:
- Macworld reports that leaked internal code reveals Apple’s next HomePod mini will feature an S10 chip for improved performance and wireless reliability without AI capabilities.
- The next-generation AirTag appears delayed until 2026, with planned features including “Improved Moving” tracking, enhanced Precision Finding, and better crowded-place detection.
- These updates suggest incremental hardware improvements rather than revolutionary changes, with major AI features potentially reserved for a rumored “HomePad” device.
After a quiet 2025, evidence suggests Apple is working on modest but highly anticipated updates to two of its accessories. New evidence found in a leaked internal build of iOS 26 seen by Macworld reveals an unreleased HomePod mini, as well as unannounced AirTag features that suggest a second generation is coming soon.
Upgraded HomePod mini
The HomePod mini was introduced in 2020 as a cheaper alternative to the larger HomePod. Since then, it has been updated with new colors, but despite persistent rumors, the internal hardware has yet to get an update. But according to Apple’s internal code, a new HomePod mini is finally on the way.
The new version of the HomePod mini is identified by the codename B252, which aligns with a report published by MacRumors earlier this year. The product is expected to be powered by the same S10 chip found in the latest Apple Watch models.
Today’s HomePod mini still runs on the aging S5 chip, so a newer, more efficient processor would deliver faster performance and better wireless reliability rather than any major functional changes. Based on what’s in the code, this upcoming model seems to be little more than a spec bump.
Even with the new chip, the new HomePod mini is unlikely to support Apple Intelligence features, which will likely arrive in Apple’s upcoming smart home hub device. As Macworld previously reported, the rumored “HomePad” device is believed to include an A18 chip, which is capable of running on-device AI features.
Apple’s Airtag will reportedly gain better tracking with the upcoming second-generation update.
Foundry
AirTag set to gain more precise location tracking
The leaked code also reveals hints of what to expect for the future of AirTag. Apple’s item tracker is set to gain a handful of new features, including an improved pairing process, enhanced Precision Finding, and detailed battery level reporting.
Apple is also working on a feature called “Improved Moving,” which will likely allow users to find the precise location of an AirTag even when it’s moving around, one of the limitations of the current AirTag. Another feature seems focused on improving accurate tracking in crowded places.
While some of the new features may arrive for the current AirTag via a software update, Apple has long been rumored to introduce a new generation of AirTag with an upgraded ultra-wideband chip, which would improve the Precision Finding feature.
All of these AirTag features found in the code are targeted for iOS 26, so it’s likely Apple will announce them in the first half of the year. Interestingly, these capabilities are tagged internally as “2025AirTag,” which strongly suggests that the product was originally slated for release this year but was quietly pushed to next year.
With both the refreshed HomePod mini and next-gen AirTag showing up in internal software, 2026 is shaping up to be a busy year for Apple’s accessories.
Author: Filipe Esposito, Contributor
Filipe Espósito is a Brazilian journalist who has been covering tech for over 10 years, and has become known for publishing exclusive reports on Apple's plans – such as the launch of the first titanium Apple Watch. He has worked for 9to5Mac and also co-hosts the tech podcast “A Fonte” in Brazil.