Apple’s second-generation HomePod will begin arriving to prospects and launch in shops this Friday. Forward of time, the primary opinions of the good speaker have been shared by choose media publications and YouTube channels.
Priced at $299, the brand new HomePod includes a nearly equivalent design because the full-size HomePod that Apple discontinued in March 2021, however with two fewer tweeters and microphones. The Siri-powered speaker can be outfitted with a four-inch high-excursion woofer, an S7 chip for computational audio, and a U1 chip for handing off music from an iPhone. The speaker helps Matter for good house equipment and Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos.
A brand new sensor within the HomePod can measure temperature and humidity in indoor environments, and this function was additionally enabled on the present HomePod mini with a current software program replace. Sound Recognition may even be coming to the brand new HomePod with a software program replace this spring, permitting the speaker to pay attention for smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and ship a notification to the consumer’s iPhone if a sound is recognized.
The brand new HomePod may be pre-ordered on Apple’s on-line retailer, with white and midnight coloration choices accessible. In-store availability and deliveries to prospects will start Friday, February 3 in the USA, Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, the UK, and 11 different international locations and areas.
Written Evaluations
The Verge‘s Chris Welch stated sound high quality is similar to the unique HomePod:
After a number of days of listening to the brand new HomePod (each solo and in a stereo pair), I nonetheless assume its sound signature stays true to the unique HomePod. In case you have been a fan of that speaker, you’ll be glad with the second-gen model. Positive, you may hear delicate variations in how music is rendered when evaluating each generations facet by facet with the identical monitor. The newer HomePod would possibly convey out a guitar solo with barely extra emphasis than the unique. However the central traits are the identical.
The Wall Road Journal‘s Nicole Nguyen additionally stated the brand new HomePod sounds the identical as the unique:
The up to date HomePod seems to be rather a lot like its discontinued predecessor—and sounds related, too. I examined the brand new HomePod, as a single unit and grouped as a stereo pair, in a room that’s roughly 370 sq. ft. For many tracks, retaining the amount at 30% was sufficient to fill the area.
In case you have a look at spec sheets evaluating the previous and new HomePods, you would possibly scratch your head. The brand new one has a quick processor however fewer built-in microphones and audio system, and helps an older Wi-Fi normal. However in individual, the brand new HomePod sounds and performs the identical as the unique.
Pocket-lint‘s Britta O’Boyle was impressed with the brand new HomePod’s sound high quality too:
When it comes to {hardware}, there are 5 tweeters, a “high-excursion woofer” able to shifting a formidable 20mm, and a four-microphone array. It is a barely totally different setup to the unique HomePod – that had seven tweeters for starters – however the efficiency is equally wonderful. Make no mistake, the HomePod (2nd era) sounds improbable.
Within the midrange, you get vocals which can be detailed, crisp and crystal clear, whereas on the decrease finish, the HomePod packs in loads of bass. It is pretty and deep for its dimension, whereas nonetheless providing expression and punch. It is not as bassy because the Sonos 5 – which is a much bigger and costlier speaker – and HomePod is arguably a little bit extra muddled within the mid-range when taking part in tracks like Skrillex’s Rumble in comparison with the 5, however it’s nonetheless very spectacular general – and that may be a fairly difficult monitor to maintain up with anyway. You’ll be able to cut back the bass within the Residence app, although we did not discover this vital.
Engadget‘s Billy Steele stated that whereas Siri had a number of shortcomings when the unique HomePod was launched in 2018, the voice assistant has improved through the years. He additionally stated the brand new HomePod’s two fewer microphones in comparison with the unique didn’t impression Siri’s potential to detect his voice — even in a loud room:
After we reviewed the unique HomePod in 2018, certainly one of our largest gripes was with Siri’s restricted skills. Positive the speaker sounded good, however the lack of polish with the voice assistant made it look like a piece in progress. Apple has accomplished rather a lot to enhance Siri during the last 5 years, so numerous these points with the unique have been fastened.
First, the HomePod, like Siri in your iPhone, is able to recognizing a number of customers. Private Requests can enable it to peek at your Calendar, Notes, Reminders, Messages, Discover My and extra once you ask. Plus, HomePod can provide every member of your loved ones (as much as six folks) their distinctive responses from sure iPhone apps. What’s extra, Siri can create recurring house automations with out you having to select up your cellphone and swipe over to the suitable app.
Even with fewer microphones to select up your voice, the brand new HomePod doesn’t undergo any efficiency setbacks. It’s simply as succesful as ever at selecting out your voice even in a loud room.
MobileSyrup‘s Dean Daley was impressed with Spatial Audio on the brand new HomePod:
A improbable music to check out spatial audio can be certainly one of my favorite tracks for karaoke, “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen. It sounds respectable at first, however after the “I see a little bit silhouette of a person” part of the music, the 2nd-Gen HomePod takes it to an entire different degree, completely using Dolby Atmos’ encompass sound and spatial audio with harmonies and melodies to create an epic live performance within the leisure area. This was undoubtedly my favorite music I examined out, and one I confirmed to a number of pals.
TheStreet‘s Jacob Krol touched on the brand new HomePod’s bigger backlit contact floor:
Probably the most important design change lives up prime and entails the display. Whereas there isn’t actually new data being proven and the dream of a HomePod with a real show incorporates to be simply {that a} dream, the highest floor is bigger. It provides another management with tapping to play or pause amongst different controls and it may well glow brighter, and bigger in several colours.
Fairly than having the amount controls seem after a contact like on the unique HomePod, the “+” and “-” are actually etched into this backlit contact floor which makes it simpler to regulate the amount at a second’s discover. When taking part in again music, the HomePod’s prime will glow in colours that resemble the album art work of what you’re listening to and when speaking with Siri it would glow with the entire colours you’d anticipate.
TechCrunch‘s Brian Heater examined audio handoff on the brand new HomePod:
Begin a music with Apple Music in your iPhone, maintain it close to the HomePod and it’ll begin taking part in there, accompanied by a satisfying haptic fist bump. Transfer the cellphone close to the speaker once more and you’ll switch it again. I actually like this function. It’s instance of how properly {hardware} can play collectively should you make your individual gadgets, software program and chips. It’s additionally surprisingly receptive. In reality, I discovered myself having to disable it whereas the HomePods are on my desk, in any other case it would by accident set off once I’m utilizing the iPhone two ft from the audio system.
