HomePod 2 review: A great smart speaker that struggles to stand out

The brand new HomePod second-generation

AppleInsider might earn an affiliate fee on purchases made by way of hyperlinks on our web site.

The HomePod launched as a product with out an precise residence. It was usually acquired nicely — together with by us — on components apart from worth. By any measure, although, it did not promote nicely at launch.

Weak demand necessitated a worth drop of the HomePod from $349 to $299 to spur gross sales. It nonetheless wasn’t sufficient, and Apple unceremoniously unplugged the first-generation HomePod following the success of the rather more reasonably priced HomePod mini.

The secondhand market then flourished. HomePods offered on eBay offered nicely above their authentic worth as customers lusted after the bigger sound.

In an about-face a number of years later, solely flippantly heralded by the rumor mill, Apple resurrected the full-size HomePod with a brand new second-generation unit that bears a putting resemblance to the unique however with all-new internals and further options.

We are going to doubtless by no means know the entire story, however there is a robust likelihood that this new HomePod was pushed again by Apple as provide chain drama grew over the summer time and into the autumn. It would not have shocked us if Apple initially deliberate to launch the up to date HomePod in its September keynote alongside the brand new iPhones.

The 2022 date printed on the underside of the field reinforces this, plus the HomePod ships with software program model 16 put in out of the field.

A postponement close to last-minute would clarify why model 16 of the HomePod software program contained few new options. Apple as a substitute shipped a slew of latest options with the just-released HomePod software program model 16.3, which additionally arrived for the HomePod mini.

The brand new HomePod appears very similar to the unique, although it is rather barely smaller. It measures 6.6 inches tall, precisely twice the peak of the HomePod mini.

The brand new HomePod is .2 inches shorter

Across the outdoors is Apple’s in-house designed audio mesh which is available in white or Midnight, changing the House Grey. Midnight appears strikingly just like House Grey however has a really slight blue hue.

On high is a big touch-sensitive floor used to manage playback, invoke Siri, and alter the amount. The backlight has expanded this time, lighting up the entire space with multi-colored lights when Siri is listening.

The brand new etched quantity buttons

Apple used to determine the amount controls by illuminating them from behind. On the brand new mannequin, Apple pulled from the HomePod mini’s design and makes use of etched symbols as a substitute.

It is exhausting to see the amount controls throughout music playback

The issue with the etched symbols is that when music is taking part in, the mushy glow that emits from the middle obfuscates them. It is exhausting to inform exactly the place you have to contact to regulate the amount.

A non-slip floor covers the underside that has the very same concern the unique HomePod had — it should depart rings on some completed wooden tables.

We’re attempting to know why Apple did not go for another materials on the bottom as they did with the HomePod mini. The fisheye discoloration is widespread with silicone rings on electronics on completed wooden tables, and Apple’s materials engineers need to know this, as it’s by no means a brand new phenomenon.

Arguably, although, since it is a recognized phenomenon — and has been for about 50 years — they knew it from the beginning with the unique HomePod. Maybe they did not care then, and nonetheless do not.

The facility cable can now be simply eliminated

In a giant win for repairability, Apple has chosen to incorporate an simply detachable energy cable. The facility cable has a proprietary finish with a canopy that presents a seamless look however can simply be pulled free.

The cable has a braided exterior and is colour matched, portraying a elegant look. In a pinch, you may swap it for practically any normal C7 energy cable you might have readily available.

Apple isn’t any stranger to C7 cables. The Apple TV and Mac mini use them, in spite of everything. Of the dozen or so we tried, not each substitute cable labored, however most did.

Throughout the HomePod’s mesh exterior sits a four-inch woofer and 5 horn-loaded tweeters. It is a downgrade from the OG HomePod’s seven tweeters in quantity solely.

The identical goes for the microphones that dropped to 4 from six, although we observed no distinction when calling on Apple’s titular assistant.

HomePod mini and the brand new HomePod facet by facet

An improve from the iPhone 6’s A8 processor, Apple is utilizing the S7 SoC. It is the identical chipset discovered within the Apple Watch Sequence 7.

Different new internals consists of room-sensing capabilities with out the necessity for a devoted accelerometer and environmental sensors for the good residence person — extra on that later.

It additionally helps Thread and is provided with Apple’s ultrawideband U1 chip.

Some points took a step backward, although. Due to that A8, Wi-Fi acquired a downgrade to 802.11n from 802.11ac, which Apple says is succesful sufficient for music streaming whereas being extra vitality environment friendly.

That is high quality. You will not have the ability to hit any bandwidth limites on 802.11n whereas streaming music, irrespective of how sophisticated.

HomePod nonetheless does not have a correct show — we yearn for Apple to launch some model of a tabletop HomePod-iPad combo system — so to work together, you primarily use Siri or the AirPlay menu in your different gadgets.

In comparison with not solely the primary HomePod however the HomePod mini as nicely, Siri is much quicker. Siri responds shortly to our requests and units scenes rather more expeditiously.

The highest spins and shows vivid colours when Siri is listening

Siri has discovered new tips lately, equivalent to the flexibility to ask the place family and friends members are which might be shared by way of the Find My app and you may arrange reoccurring good residence automations simply by utilizing your voice.

Siri nonetheless wants to enhance in comparison with different digital assistants. Generally we would say, “Siri, shut the bed room shades,” and Siri would reply “there aren’t any gadgets within the studio that may be set to that place.”

That is incorrect on two ranges as a result of the studio does have shades, and we particularly requested concerning the bed room. The way it misconstrued this request evades us.

There are additionally inconsistencies with different requests. You possibly can ask Siri to open the shades day by day at 6 AM in your HomePod, however in case you ask in your Apple Watch, Siri says she will’t do this.

Siri has loads of privateness advantages and has come a good distance because it was launched, but it surely’s clear Apple nonetheless has enhancements that it must make.

For good residence customers, the second-generation HomePod is considerably extra succesful. It really works as a Residence Hub for Homekit and as a Matter hub.

A Residence Hub in Apple Residence is important for distant entry, working automations when you’re away, and processing HomeKit Safe Video.

It’s a Thread border router, bridging any Thread-enabled equipment to your community and increasing your Thread mesh community all through your property.

HomePod now has humidity and temperature sensors

An environmental sensor may even show the temperature and humidity of its encompassing room throughout the Residence app. You possibly can ask Siri what the temperature or humidity is, or look within the Residence app to see these.

These sensors can be utilized in automation routines like closing the shades through the day if the temperature rises too excessive or turning on the dehumidifier if the humidity degree reaches a sure threshold.

The options add as much as a superb good residence mind, even when Siri nonetheless has room to develop.

It nonetheless has the intercom function, permitting you to make bulletins to particular rooms or folks. Simply say, “inform the entire residence dinner is prepared,” to ship everybody working.

That mentioned, the HomePod mini can do that at a a lot lower cost. What separates the 2 is audio high quality.

HomePod has a bigger design that results in rather more inside quantity, as in comparison with the HomePod mini. It outputs rather more bass and may fill bigger rooms with ease.

You possibly can pair two second-generation HomePods collectively in a stereo pair which sounds wonderful. It is a simple comparability to the HomePod mini however technology over technology, not all that clear.

Opinions differ on this throughout the AppleInsider workers, however total, we predict the brand new HomePod does sound higher than the unique — however not by a big margin. There’s extra separation within the layers with extra constancy on the excessive finish.

That is particularly good with the discount in tweeters. The bass remains to be heavy, placing out the low finish on loads of rock tracks on our testing playlist.

Different reviewers have mentioned they sound close to indistinguishable. Your mileage might differ based mostly on what you take heed to and the way.

Use the brand new U1 for audio handoff

Identical to the HomePod mini, the brand new HomePod has Apple’s U1 chip which can assist place objects in 3D house. It improves the handoff expertise along with your iPhone.

Convey your cellphone close to the HomePod, and the vibration will get stronger earlier than it virtually “pops” because it passes the audio out of your cellphone to the speaker. It really works in reverse as you switch the music from the HoemPod again to your cellphone.

This works for cellphone calls too which is helpful as you stroll by way of your property’s door and also you need to cross the decision to the loudspeaker.

You can too use two HomePods along with your Apple TVApple TV. Two HomePods assist Dolby Atmos spatial audio, although your expertise will differ based mostly in your room setup.

HomePod sounds higher than HomePod mini, compared one-on-one. Two HomePod minis sound about pretty much as good as a single full-size HomePod, and also you get stereo separation.

To your TV, two HomePods sound higher than nearly all of $500 soundbars.

HomePod is a superb speaker. Apple upgraded Siri with new skills, improved the audio, boosted the processor, and retained the decreased worth versus the unique launch. In doing so, Apple bolstered its place within the good residence.

Aside from one-on-one sound high quality and quantity, it does every little thing on the identical degree because the HomePod mini. Apple did not introduce something new with the up to date HomePod over the HomePod mini apart from the detachable energy cable.

HomePod mini remains to be proper for many customers

The brand new HomePod is a really protected improve from Apple, however does not do a lot to justify its $300 price ticket. $249 feels like a greater price ticket for the massive HomePod as-is, particularly with new competitors from Sonos on the horizon. We’ll be speaking extra about the way it compares to alternate options within the coming weeks.

There’s definitely a marketplace for the massive HomePod. However, we won’t say Apple has completed sufficient with the brand new mannequin, to assist it develop.

• Higher, louder sound than the HomePod mini
• Nice good residence capabilities with sensors, Thread, and Matter
• Incredible Apple TV companion
• Straightforward setup
• Multi-room audio with AirPlay 2 gadgets

• Siri nonetheless wants enchancment
• Quantity buttons are exhausting to see
• No new colorways
• Barely too costly