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Reviews of the new, larger HomePod are pouring in, and while Siri is faster and sounds similar, the higher price tag makes it hard to justify a second-round offering.
Apple reintroduced the HomePod on January 18 at the same $300 price tag it had when it was discontinued in 2021. It features a tweaked exterior design, a reconfigured speaker layout, and new sensors for improved audio reproduction.
Same price and size, but 2 less tweeters and 2 less mics. New sensors include system sensors dedicated to temperature, humidity, and audio algorithms.
Apple didn’t take the time to compare the new and old models in its announcement, so there were no clear promises of how the audio would sound. Surprisingly, the new technology seemed to guarantee at least equal or better audio.
The new HomePod will ship to customers on Friday, January 3rd. Here’s our first review of the resurrected smart speaker.
The Verge: general improvements
The Barge praised the HomePod’s sound quality, new sensors, and fast Siri responses. However, they say the high price makes them not perfect speakers, as buying a more optimized stereo pair doubles the price.
High cost is a problem, according to The BargeThey note that competitors have premium smart speakers in the $200 range.
And, according to reviews, the larger HomePod doesn’t offer any special features compared to the $100 HomePod mini, other than better sound.
The user-removable plug is a bonus, as Apple has gone with a standard figure-eight adapter. The review highlights hardware additions like the temperature sensor and U1 chip that bring new capabilities to the speaker.
The sound quality is comparable to the original, but with a slight improvement in how the music is rendered. However, the audio doesn’t offer much warmth and has been described as ‘clinical’.
Reviews state that Siri is the same. That is, it never responds to a request completely differently. However, it is much faster and more reliable when it comes to providing answers.
It looks like Apple is playing it safe by returning a consistent sound and a $299 price tag. The Barge.
MKBHD: Confusing Product
MKBHD calls the new HomePod “one of the most confusing new Apple products I’ve seen in a long time.”
However, Apple’s play here makes no sense according to his review, as the first HomePod also had amazing sound for a similar price. If the first model failed, it doesn’t look like Apple did much to prevent a recurrence.
Brownlee adds that this is both a great speaker and a bad product. It’s hard to justify the price, partly because Siri doesn’t work well, and you can’t even set Spotify as your default music player.
Most people would be better off with the HomePod mini or competing speakers, depending on user preferences and needs. He also states that some finishes will still leave rings, so use coasters.
TechCrunch: New tricks, familiar looks
TechCrunch describes the new HomePod’s audio as “full.” Highs are high, lows are low.
As always, reviewers say it’s better with a stereo pair. Audio isolation he is excellent with one speaker, but having two leaves more room for instruments. The low end can be overwhelming.
According to reviews, customers considering the HomePod must have an iPhone, have an Apple Music subscription, and have a smart home built. Otherwise the product doesn’t make sense at that price.
TechCrunch We finish by calling the 2nd generation HomePod an excellent speaker. It’s not for everyone, but it seems likely that Apple wouldn’t have it any other way.