Apple’s next HomePod mini and AirTag upgrades surface in leaked internal code

After a quiet 2025, evidence suggests Apple is working on small but highly anticipated updates to two of its accessories. New evidence found in leaked internal build of iOS 26 seen by Macmonde reveals a never-before-seen HomePod mini, along with unannounced AirTag features that suggest a second generation is coming soon.

Improved HomePod mini

The HomePod mini was introduced in 2020 as a cheaper alternative to the larger HomePod. It has since been updated with new colors, but despite persistent rumors, the internal hardware has yet to be updated. But according to Apple’s internal code, a new HomePod mini is finally on the way.

The new version of the HomePod mini is codenamed B252, which matches 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 major functional changes. Based on what’s in the code, this next model appears to be little more than a spec upgrade.

Even with the new chip, the new HomePod mini is unlikely to support Apple Intelligence features, which will likely arrive in Apple’s next smart home hub. As Macmonde Previously reported, the “HomePad” device was rumored to include an A18 chip, capable of running AI features on the device.

Foundry

AirTag configured to get more precise location tracking

The leaked code also reveals clues about what to expect for the future of AirTag. Apple’s Item Tracking is expected to get a handful of new features, including an improved pairing process, improved precision search, 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, one of the limitations of the current AirTag. Another feature seems focused on improving precise tracking in busy places.

Although 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 improved ultra-wideband chip, which would improve the precision search feature.

All of these AirTag features found in the code are intended for iOS 26, so it’s likely that Apple will announce them sometime in the first half of the year. Interestingly, these capabilities are internally labeled as “2025AirTag,” which strongly suggests that the product was originally supposed to release this year, but was quietly pushed back to next year.

With the appearance of the refreshed HomePod mini and the next-generation AirTag in the internal software, 2026 is shaping up to be a busy year for Apple accessories.