Apple relaunched the HomePod one year ago today, debuting a second-generation model almost five years after the original model’s introduction.
The HomePod was announced at WWDC in 2017 and launched in 2018 after a heavily delayed launch. The device was met with mixed reviews; critics praised its outstanding sound quality but pointed out its high price, missing features, and limited functionality compared to rivals.
Apple dropped its price from $349 to $299 in April 2019 and, in March 2021, the company announced that it was discontinuing the first-generation HomePod, instead shifting its focus to the HomePod mini, which launched the previous year. The decision left a gap in Apple’s product lineup for a full-sized smart speaker until the company introduced the second-generation model via a press release on January 18, 2023.
The second-generation HomePod looks virtually identical to the original, although it is 0.2 inches shorter and has a larger edge-to-edge LED touchscreen on top. It also boasts a range of upgrades and changes compared to its 2018 predecessor:
HomePod (second-generation, 2023)
HomePod (first-generation, 2018)
Refined design with acoustically transparent mesh fabric
Design with acoustically transparent mesh fabric
Larger backlit touch surface that illuminates from edge to edge
Backlit touch surface
S7 chip from 2021’s Apple Watch Series 7
A8 chip from 2013’s iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus
U1 ultra wideband chip
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Five horn-loaded tweeters
Seven horn-loaded tweeters
Four far-field beamforming microphones
Six far-field beamforming microphones
6.6 inches tall
6.8 inches tall
Weighs 5.16 pounds
Weighs 5.5 pounds
Removable power cable
Fixed power cable
Wi-Fi 4 connectivity (802.11n)
Wi-Fi 5 connectivity (802.11ac)
Thread support
Temperature and humidity sensor
Sound Recognition
Available in White and Midnight
Available in White and Space Gray
While Apple’s potential plans for a third-generation HomePod are unclear a year after the current model was introduced, there are a multitude of rumors surrounding a HomePod with an LCD touchscreen display arriving as soon as 2024.
This article, “Apple Reintroduced the HomePod a Year Ago Today” first appeared on MacRumors.com
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