Apple launches a black HomePod Mini

Apple just launched a version of its HomePod Mini smart speaker in a new “midnight” color. The dark color looks very similar to the original space gray that the Mini launched in, but the new naming brings it in line with the midnight HomePod second-gen that was released early last year. It goes up for sale on July 17th in the US (still for $99) and 31 other countries.

The HomePod Mini only launched with two colors — space gray and white — initially, but Apple later added yellow, orange, and blue. Apple says the new Mini is made with 100 percent recycled mesh. Until now, the smart speaker’s mesh has used 90 percent recycled material.

The price, features, and general appearance of the new Mini appear to remain the same. It’s still equipped with Siri and can sense temperature and humidity. You can use it as an intercom when you have multiple Siri-enabled speakers, and it can detect when a smoke or carbon monoxide alarm is going off and alert you via your iPhone.

… The color in Apple’s press photo looks nearly the same, too. Was this worth a whole press release? I mean, sure. Gotta remind people that Apple has smart speakers, too. Am I going to buy one just to set it next to a space gray one and quiz my family on which is which? I hate to say it, but chances are good that I will.

Anyway, the new one is on the left.