Apple’s next wave of hardware refreshes may have leaked early, thanks to internal iOS 26 code that points to new versions of both the HomePod mini and AirTag arriving in 2026.
The details, first spotted in a leaked build seen by Macworld, suggest Apple is preparing only modest improvements, but ones that could still address recurring pain points for users.
The HomePod mini, for instance, hasn’t seen a meaningful internal upgrade since its launch in 2020. Aside from new colours, the compact speaker has remained largely unchanged, still relying on the older S5 chip. That’s set to shift with a new model identified under the codename B252, which appears to swap in the S10 chip found in recent Apple Watch models. It’s not a dramatic redesign, but the internal bump should help with responsiveness, wireless reliability, and long-term support.
What it won’t do, however, is unlock Apple Intelligence. Those features are still expected to be reserved for Apple’s rumoured smart home hub, often referred to as the “HomePad,” which is believed to run on an A18 chip powerful enough for on-device AI processing. For now, the refreshed HomePod mini looks more like a maintenance update than a major shift in Apple’s smart-home strategy.
The AirTag, on the other hand, appears to be gearing up for a more meaningful evolution. The leaked code points to several new capabilities targeting some of the tracker’s most common weaknesses. There’s mention of an improved pairing process, enhanced Precision Finding, and even more granular battery level reporting.
One standout entry is a feature Apple labels “Improved Moving,” which seems designed to make location tracking more accurate when an AirTag is in motion, something the first-generation model struggles with. Another addition appears to address tracking reliability in crowded environments, an area where AirTag’s ultra-wideband tech can get overwhelmed.
While some of these upgrades may trickle down to existing AirTags via software, the feature set lines up with long-running rumours of a second-generation tracker. Internally, the capabilities are tagged as “2025AirTag”, suggesting Apple originally intended to launch the new model this year before quietly pushing it back.
With both accessories now surfacing in Apple’s own software, even if unintentionally, 2026 looks set to be a busier year for Apple’s smaller hardware than 2025 turned out to be. The updates may not be flashy, but for the HomePod mini and AirTag, the improvements land exactly where users have been asking for them.
