Expert’s Rating
Pros
Cons
Our Verdict
If you ’re deep in the Apple ecosystem and your Wi - Fi signal and frustration doorway are both unassailable , this is the impudent speaker for you : it will recreate your music beautifully and make idiot box look on a delight . Just be disposed to repeat yourself , and heed to a cluster of call you never ask for .
Best Prices Today: Apple HomePod (2nd generation, 2023)
Well this was a surprise . Appleditched the HomePodback in 2021 , indicating breezily that it intended to concentrate alternatively on the smaller and cheap HomePod miniskirt . But now it ’s hail creep back , profess undying tenderness for the full - sized form factor .
Or , in less spectacular damage , Apple has launch a 2nd - gen HomePod , and everyone is wondering what ’s changed , and why the company cogitate this time will be more successful . In our in - astuteness review of the 2023 HomePod , we intend to happen out .
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Spot the difference: Apple’s original HomePod (left) and the new model.
Design and build quality: Much the same, in a good way
The HomePod 2 is a better-looking speaker system . It ’s a neat , chunky but relatively compact cylinder with the edges smoothed off at the top and bottom . As with the very first iPad , the inward curved shape at its stem ask for the paw to pick it up . This feels like a very constituent design , somehow , a embodiment that ’s unobtrusive , human , and mistily marshmallowy . It still feel modern , too , despite being barely any different from the 2018 archetype .
Indeed , at a first coup d’oeil it ’s difficult to spot the outside differences between the first and 2d full - size HomePods . There are some — it ’s a little short ( by 4 mm , which I did n’t notice ) and lighter ( by 200 g , which I did)—but the overall look is nearly identical .
The diamond mesh pattern isfractionallyfiner now ( by my reckoning each diamond on the main surface is now 2.5 millimeter widely , compared to 3.5 mm on the first - gen theoretical account , and I intrust this full of life data helps you make an informed buying decision ) while the color of the sinister modelling , branded as Midnight , now has more noticeable wind of blueness .
Spot the difference: Apple’s original HomePod (left) and the new model.
I ’ll mention in fade that it strikes me as a bully shame that the wonderful color currently available on theHomePod mini , including a fine autumnal orange that I bought the moment I see to it it , are not offer here . The mini had to wait around a class to get options beyond the classic black and white , and that may well be the case with this model too ; but if so , it ’s rough on the former adopters . Perhaps it ’s worth look until next Christmas to see if the orange finish appear .
More importantly , the blind on the top has seen some changes . The space is a little smaller ( roughly 8.2 cm across , compared to 8.9 centimetre on the previous fashion model ) but the screen itself is larger to occupy up more of it . When you ’re talking to the equipment , the entire circle make full with the swirling colours of the Siri animation rather than just glowing in the centerfield . It still feel like the screen is underused — I’d love to see track details and graphics , for illustration — but it ’s at least easier to tell when Siri has been activate from across the room . The volume indicators , meanwhile , are now permanently marked on the screen rather than just appear through a software program interface , which is nice : I would often attempt to activate the screen of the original fashion model to summon the volume keys and inadvertently intermit the Sung dynasty that was play instead .
The projection screen is also now slightly more inset . It was the very highest point of the original HomePod , but on the more vent - similar HomePod 2 , it lies 3 mm or so below the rim of the loudspeaker system mesh , which may offer some protection from devolve objects . Drop a set of keys on your HomePod ( not recommended ) and the screen will still likely scratch , but with a large and flat objective , the soft and plain less incision - prone speaker interlock will take the impact . On the other hand , this inset projection screen is harder to clean and more prone to collect dust in the recesses .
Just look at that orange beauty.
There are two more outside changes I can see , and these may both be stand for to conciliate complaints from the original launch . The tycoon cable is now obliterable , praise be , which may save some speakers from untimely obsolescence and makes life easy for those who want to set up their HomePod in a small-arm of furniture with little cable television gap .
Finally , the base is now a monotonic and quite concentrated circle with only the Apple logo slightly indented in the center , whereas previously there was a decent - size circle cut back out of the base , leaving the machine ’s weightiness pressing down on a ring of softer material . I have no inner information on this alteration but it may be touch on tothe ringsreported when place white model of the original HomePod on dour or wood - finish furniture . ( The HomePod mini also sound for a disc rather than ring base , by the room , so Apple ’s designers presumably came up with this solution a few year back . )
I pose up fresh HomePods in both ashen and bleak on scrap patch of chipboard for the duration of my testing , fearing for the surface of my TV console , but in the event neither leave behind a mark that I could recognize . Still , I ’d advocate the precaution of using a coaster or plumping for the fateful model ( which is less prostrate to becoming grimy over time anyway ) , since at least one other reader claims to have still noticed halo with the white one . He said the problem was far less severe but had n’t been fixed completely .
The screen area is now better utilised, and sits slightly below the speaker mesh.
David Price / Foundry
Setup: Hard to fault, easy to use
As you ’d anticipate from an Apple mathematical product , ease of setup is one of its strong features . Plug in the HomePod and wave an iPhone vaguely in its direction and an onscreen popup ( on the earphone ) will invite you to set it up . spigot to confirm , take a way and hold off a few minutes , and it ’s all sorted for you . If there ’s another HomePod of the same model in the choose room , you ’ll be give the option to conjoin them as a stereo pair . This , too , is dissipated and square .
In world-wide , Apple user will witness the HomePod an easy speaker system to utilize . From the Music app , it ’s simple to pick out one or more desired HomePods as an output ( my only complaint is the app ’s use of lump multiple HomePods together in the interface once they ’re act the same thing , which shit it slightly more awkward to separate them subsequently ) and I ’ve found it similarly intuitive to stream to HomePods from the AirPlay interface of third - party sound apps such as BBC Sounds or TalkSport .
Controlling the HomePod via an iPhone , then , is loosely a positive and user - friendly experience . But Apple clear intends for you to mainly control it with your voice using Siri – one clue is the iPhone ’s occasional inclination to “ lose ” the connexion and leave behind a track toy severally of its control – and that ’s less pleasant , as we ’ll discuss in a later section .
The base has been changed from a ring (on the original HomePod, left) to a circle.
Audio experience: Great sound but lighter on bass
I ’ll set about this central part of the review by express for the record book that I ’ve had good listening experiences with all the HomePods I ’ve try : the original theoretical account and the HomePod miniskirt produced rich and powerful strait for their several sizes and prices , and base on past experiences , I felt confident about Apple delivering on the audio quality front even before I play the first song on the new HomePod .
Sure enough , songs sounded keen through the 2nd - gen HomePod . Even without any major climb to the specification , Apple appears to have tinkered with the balance — again , likely in response to literary criticism that the original good example was too bass - heavy — and on the bulk of rails that I tested it was preferred to the original model .
For classical , daddy , most rock , and some jazz I preferred the HomePod 2 ’s delivery , which was richer , better balanced , more immersive , and more detailed at the top end . However , it ’s deserving head out that this rebalancing of the sound spectrum may not be to everyone ’s taste , and on certain tracks , I continue to favour the clayey freshwater bass sound of the original manakin : the first HomePod was better for dance and electronic music , and even some idle words songs with a major bass part constituent . It would be nice to have some counterbalance control and be able to adjust the balance to suit individual tastes , but as ever Apple feels that it knows well .
Look ma, no rings.
you could scan more detail about the blind tests I conducted to liken the two full - size HomePod modelsin a disjoined article , but I can summarise by read that they definitely vocalize different , and I suspect that for the legal age of tracks and to the bulk of users ’ tastes , the raw model will be preferable . But lover of the original model ’s punchy , powerful bass may be disappointed that this ingredient has been dialed back .
These finding were a little surprising because Apple has actually reduced the number of tweeter covering the mellow end : there are now five of them , compared to seven in the old model . My guessing is that optimization in the internal layout and other changes , such as the switch from an A8 processor to an S7 and the cellular inclusion of an “ all - young system sensor ” for real - fourth dimension audio recording adjustments to fit a room ’s layout , have run to a rebalanced and in some respects improved sound .
For an audio experience that ’s well still ( assuming you ’ve got a big budget ) reckon corrupt two HomePods and countersink them up as a stereo span . The effect of this in my test was stunning , producing a productive , elaborated , and irresistibly immersive sound . This solve particularly well if you use them as TV utterer via an Apple TV , a move which transubstantiate my enjoyment of the TV+ avail , particularly when watching grandiose prestigiousness programming such asFoundation .
The HomePod works best as a stereo pair (with another model of the same generation only).
mention that the new HomePod can not be set up as a stereoscopic picture couplet with the first - gen model — the audio characteristics are evidently too different to work correctly in stereo — and certainly not with a HomePod mini . you may have two HomePods from unlike generations set up in the same room and have them both outputting the same cartroad , but they will each play the full audio frequency rather than knowing to ramify into left and right channel . It is n’t as good , in brusk . And for those who ’ve dumbfound a first - gen HomePod , the lack of cross - generational stereophony backing makes the additional leverage less appealing . ( You could always have the two devices in separate rooms since AirPlay support multiroom sound recording … or switch in the old model if someone make you a good offer . )
Smart features: Siri lets the side down
As I’veranted elsewhere , Siri is the HomePod ’s weak wooing . It really lets down the whole experience .
Okay , let ’s start with a positive preeminence : the HomePod , despite having suffer a dyad of mike ( four vs six ) is nevertheless fantabulous at noticing its trigger phrase . If someone says “ Hey Siri , ” no matter which member of my phratry speaks it and wherever they are in the room , and whichever guidance they ’re face , and even if loud music is playing over the top , the HomePod light up and prepares to undertake a mastery . Unfortunately , that ’s where the problem start .
In my anecdotical experience , but backed by the testimony of many other users , it seems to mishear more often than Alexa , for example , and is more prostrate to pretend what ’s want when it is n’t sure . This can result in extremely thwarting situation where it plays entirely the wrong call . On being told “ Hey Siri , play Miles Davis , ” for exercise , my HomePod chose instead to act “ Monster ( feat . Jay - Z , Rick Ross , Nicki Minaj & Bon Iver ) , ” defying me to line the bananas system of logic that lead it to that rail .
Siri lets you know it’s listening with a swirl of color.
This would be frustrative enough , but middling often the HomePod then carries on take on the wrong song against my wishing because it also ca n’t interpret the command “ Hey Siri , halt playing . ” ( One can only daydream of the daytime when Apple enables its smart speaker unit to read simple but critical commands like “ Stop playing ” on the gimmick rather than having to get at an internet connectedness , but today is not that twenty-four hours . ) It isreasonablyaccurate , but the computer error can be very galling .
In terminal figure of smart feature , too , Siri on the HomePod is behind the leech edge of technological invention . It ’s not big at answering trivia questions , for example . I asked , “ How long is a whale ? ” and was told , counterintuitively , the runtime of the similarly named recent movie , and when I specifiedbluewhale , it quoted the National Geographic ( wildly mispronounce both words , something I ’ve discover it does with the titles of song on a even fundament ) then gave a reasonably informative but rather meandering solution . Other HomePod users have reported likewise janky performance in this sphere .
It was able to tell me the temperature easily enough , but when I necessitate the HomePod if I had anything in my calendar for the day , and to scan out my most recent iMessage , it pled an inability to join to the internet . The connection in my home base is a small patched , but the HomePod had just been streaming from Apple Music quite happily . In my experience Apple ’s loudspeaker system can be annoyingly and selectively exacting about Wi - Fi signal strength ; this may be related to the S7 chip reportedly supporting the Wi - Fi 4 standard only , although I ’ve had exactly the same egress with the previous model , whose A8 chip support Wi - Fi 5 . Perhaps matter would be ameliorate by the accession of a newer iPhone chip and Wi - Fi 6 , which Sonos isset to supportin its next speakers but look unlikely to seem in a HomePod any time soon .
The power cable is now removable.
On the plus side , the HomePod can also say you the humidity , since this exemplar has a sensing element for that caper . The HomePod mini also has a humidity detector that was activated quite recently . The original HomePod has n’t got that sensor , but it will scrape the relevant information from fresh HomePods or other accessories on the same internet if available .
Talking of component acclivity , the HomePod has also gain a U1 extremist wideband microchip , something which was already included in the HomePod mini . This is designed to help you swap euphony swimmingly from iPhone to HomePod and vice versa by but bringing them closely together ( deplorably it was n’t awfully smooth in my examination , and tended to get disconnected and turn away to join ; perhaps mesh issues again ) and introduces a characteristic where an icon for a nearby HomePod appears in the iPhone 14 Pro ’s Dynamic Island and rent drug user see the song that ’s play and adjust the volume .
It ’s not a fresh or unique feature , but I did as ever enjoyIntercom , which is bright utile for families favorable enough to exist in large houses . Ask one HomePod to “ recite the living room that dinner party is ready , ” and it will broadcast that exact command – in your voice – in that room . you could then say “ tell the kitchen I ’m on my way ” and acknowledge the message in efficient mode . sure enough , Amazon fresh speaker can do this perfectly well too , but it ’s a useful and nicely executed feature and it ’s worth celebrating the win when they come up .
One smart feature article I ’m connive by , and may well end up saving the property or even life of HomePod proprietor some way down the line , is called Sound Recognition which enables the twist to listen out for and detect sound such as smoke and carbon monoxide consternation , and then inform the owner remotely via an iPhone alerting . This is n’t enabled yet , but will reportedly be sum up in a software update this spring .
Incompatibility: Not brilliant at playing nicely with others
There is one bright spot on the inter - compatibility front , however : The 2023 HomePod gains support for theMatter measure , which intend that in the future it will be able-bodied to hold a far wider range of smart - home accessories . In the past HomePod owners have been define to Apple ’s vetted ecosystem of HomeKit product , but the range has n’t really lease off as hope . Having memory access to this raw fussy - party monetary standard , put up by Amazon , Google , and Samsung , among others , is a promising move .
Verdict: Improvements, but not the ones we wanted
I like the new HomePod : I just ca n’t assist it . It looks lovely , bear a pleasing phone ( and a superb sound when localize up as a stereoscopic picture yoke ) , and is a breeze to set up and expend with my electronic internet of Apple product . The trouble is that all of those thing were true back in 2018 , and the most serious fault of the original mannequin have n’t been addressed at all .
Sure enough , the dominant bass has been rebalanced ( as if that was a bad affair ! ) , blank ring are less of a worry , the power cable length is detachable , the covert is used better , and there are some handy raw features such as temperature and humidity perception , and the forthcoming Sound Recognition . With the exclusion of the bass , which is subjective , these are all unmortgaged improvement . But for me at least , the greatest flaws of the original HomePod were Siri ’s dazzling incompetence , and the twist ’s frequent ( but inconsistent ) unfitness to connect to a Wi - Fi signal that most other twist can handle without too much difficulty . Based on my examination , neither of these has been fixed , and if anything Siri seems worsened than ever .
So it ’s a dependant recommendation . If you ’re deep in the Apple ecosystem and your Wi - Fi sign and frustration threshold are both strong , this is the chic utterer for you : It will diddle your music beautifully and make boob tube watching a pleasure if you recoil for a mo . Just be disposed to duplicate yourself , and listen to a bunch of songs you never asked for .
