As Apple's HomePod misses Christmas, Amazon Alexa tops App Store charts for first time

In a first for the app, Amazon Alexa has topped Apple's U.S. App Store charts, backing claims that the Echo Dot speaker was the top-selling item on Amazon.com during the holidays.

The Alexa app has held on to the top spot since Christmas Day — its first time ever atop the charts, TechCrunch noted. The Alexa iOS and/or Android apps are vital to setting up an Echo speaker, for instance enabling Wi-Fi pairing, configuring smarthome functions, and choosing default music services.

Earlier in December the app was typically ranked in the 60s through the 90s, suggesting that many Americans were gifted an Echo for Christmas. Aside from the Dot and the standard Echo, other models include the Echo Plus — which doubles as a smarthome hub — and the display-equipped Echo Spot and Echo Show.

The app has hit second place on the U.K. App Store, and fifth in Germany and Austria, suggesting strong sales in those markets as well.

Amazon announced this week that the Echo Dot was the No. 1. selling Amazon device this holiday season, and the best selling product from any manufacturer in any category across all of the online retailer. The company said it sold "millions" of Echo Dots, but declined to provide any specifics.

Separately, U.S. downloads of the Google Home app rose from 38th on Christmas Eve to sixth on Christmas Day. That could point to healthy numbers for Google's Home, Home Mini, and Home Max speakers, but the app is also essential for the company's Chromecast media streamers.

The popularity of Amazon and Google's smartspeakers could create problems for Apple, which has had to postpone its $349, Siri-based HomePod speaker until early 2018, missing the holidays entirely. People already invested in Amazon and Google products may be unlikely to mix-and-match platforms.

83 Comments

dachar 11 Years · 330 comments

About 6 years ago

I wonder why Apple announced the HomePod when they did and yet months later nothing has appeared. Was it a spoiler against Amazon and Google’s products ?

gatorguy 13 Years · 24627 comments

dachar said:

I wonder why Apple announced the HomePod when they did and yet months later nothing has appeared. Was it a spoiler against Amazon and Google’s products ?

There's little doubt it was, but there is an actual product coming for purchase. Just not announced as such yet.
Every big tech knows what every other big tech is working on, at least in generalties. Silicon Valley is relatively small and employees move around. People talk.

NY1822 8 Years · 620 comments

I mean, who has not yet downloaded youtube, Facebook, Instagram, etc. by now? not a surprise that a gift/purchase would prompt an app download

macxpress 16 Years · 5913 comments

dachar said:

I wonder why Apple announced the HomePod when they did and yet months later nothing has appeared. Was it a spoiler against Amazon and Google’s products ?

I'm sure Apple had every anticipation of releasing HomePod for the holidays, but saw that it needed more work to make it function up to Apple's standards. I'd rather they did what they did rather than just release it for the sake of releasing it and fixing everything later....kinda like Apple Maps. Yes, it sucks they missed the holidays, but I think its better to miss that and save yourself from a potential disaster than just release it to honor a release date.

That being said, I'm sure it won't be 100% perfect when its released. Nothing ever is from any company, but I'm sure it will be a lot better than if they just released it in December.