It turns out that Apple’s HomePod mini speaker is being prepared for launch in seven new countries, including Denmark and Norway. One of the testers has confirmed that he has received a test copy of the speaker.
HomePod mini is being tested in Denmark
The tester, who wishes to remain anonymous, says that he has been instructed to install a special profile package on both the iPhone and on the HomePod mini itself, which has “opened up” the door for languages such as Swedish, Norwegian and Danish.
The speaker was shipped directly from Apple in Barcelona and the test lasts eight weeks. As compensation, the tester will receive an Apple TV 4K and approximately DKK 1,500 (about $230). Thus, we can conclude that a Danish launch of the speaker will take place soon.
The HomePod mini was launched just over a year ago as a minor alternative to the original HomePod. Apple has since stopped production of the latter – allegedly because it did not sell well enough.
Even though the HomePod mini has not been officially launched in Denmark, you can still find it on webshops that have imported the speaker from countries where it is on the market. However, it will not speak and understand the Danish language until it is officially launched.
When we can expect the HomePod mini to arrive in the country is not known, but the Swedish testers guess that it will be in the few upcoming months.
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HomePod mini is also coming to Norway
We know from experience that Apple and many other international technology companies see the Nordic region as a single market; and the launches in other countries tend to be at about the same time.
When Siri first came to the Nordics, however, Sweden and Denmark were a few months ahead of Norway. They received local support for Siri in the launch of iOS 8.3, in the spring of 2015; while Norway users had to wait for iOS 9, which came later in the autumn, to get Siri in Norwegian.
Thus, we may also be able to expect the HomePod Mini to Norway in 2022, but perhaps a little after the Swedes, who therefore expect to get it “within a few months”.
Of course, Apple has said nothing about any of this, neither the testing of Siri in Swedish nor possible launch dates for the smart speaker in some Nordic countries. Thus, we get to take all this with a solid pinch of salt. But the video example with Siri in Swedish is at least a clear indication that the speaker is on its way to the Nordics.
The full list of countries where the HomePod mini is rumored to launch this year so far:
- Belgium
- The Netherlands
- Switzerland
- Russia
- Sweden
- Denmark
- Norway
