Before You Spend Money on a New HomePod, Apple’s Next Update Could Give the Speaker You Already Own a Surprisingly Fun Upgrade

Apple is bringing Sound Glow to older HomePod models with the upcoming HomePod 27.2 software update, giving more owners access to a colorful lighting feature that originally debuted with the HomePod mini 2.

Previously exclusive to Apple’s newest compact speaker, Sound Glow will also work on the second-generation HomePod and the original HomePod mini. That means owners won’t need to upgrade their speakers to enjoy the feature.

HomePod Software 27.2 is already in the release candidate stage and is expected to be publicly available next week.

Also: If your HomePod keeps interrupting music when nobody asked it to, Apple’s next update could finally put an end to the frustration

What Sound Glow Does

Sound Glow turns the illuminated surface on top of a HomePod into a colorful light display that pulses along with whatever you’re listening to.

Whether you’re playing music, listening to a podcast, or enjoying ambient sounds, the lights respond to the audio. Colors are pulled from album artwork, allowing the effect to change depending on what’s playing.

Once HomePod 27.2 is installed, owners can enable Sound Glow through their speaker’s settings in the Home app. For HomePods connected to an Apple TV, the option will also appear in Control Center.

There’s one notable exception to the expanded compatibility. The original full-size HomePod from 2018 won’t support Sound Glow because its LED hardware cannot reproduce the effect.

However, the first-generation HomePod mini and second-generation full-size HomePod will receive the same lighting feature introduced with the newer mini.

Also: After years of saying no, Apple could finally give MacBook Pro owners the upgrade it never wanted them to have

More Features Coming in HomePod 27.2

Beyond Sound Glow, the update introduces several other improvements that make HomePod more useful with Apple’s other devices.

Mac users can finally set a HomePod as their default audio output, eliminating the need to manually select the speaker each time.

Meanwhile, compatible HomePod models can also be used as surround sound speakers with Apple TV, offering another option for building a home theater setup.

Another welcome addition is Lock Controls, a setting that disables unwanted touch interactions on the speaker’s top surface.

Also: GM doesn’t want Apple CarPlay in its new cars, but it’s giving iPhone owners something they may have wanted for a long time

It’s particularly useful for owners experiencing phantom taps, where a HomePod registers touches that never happened and unexpectedly interrupts playback or activates Siri.

Essential interactions, including alarms and incoming calls, will continue to work even when the controls are locked.

With HomePod 27.2 expected next week, owners of supported older models will soon get several features without replacing their speakers.