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 | – |
| 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.
