Malcolm Owen
Apple may be lining up updates to the HomePod range, with a report claiming the full-size smart speaker will be returning in early 2023, while the HomePod mini will receive some form of update in the future.
Apple has seen some success with the HomePod mini, enjoying high sales in a market that has already seen the exit of the larger and premium HomePod. A report discussing Apple's future HomePod changes indicates that both may see changes over the next year.
In Sundays' "Power On" newsletter for Bloomberg, Mark Gurman believes Apple is thinking about making an update to its HomePod mini. While not outlining what those changes could be, Gurman tempers expectations that the alterations won't be "super-impressive" to users.
Following the discontinuation of the larger HomePod in March 2021 and subsequent rumors a new model is on the way, Gurman joins the chorus talking about its arrival. Agreeing with comments by analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Gurman offers an early 2023 launch for the model could occur
Aside from the HomePod family, Apple is also reportedly working on a number of other "Home" products, including the rumored device combining a HomePod with an Apple TV and a FaceTime camera. Gurman also muses that there could also be a kitchen-bound device resembling an iPad on a robotic arm on the way.
These all-new devices could arrive at the end of 2023 or early 2024, Gurman proposes.
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30 Comments
YES! Full sized home pod with better sound quality (less mushy) would be much appreciated. :smiley:
I have 2 of the original HomePods and they work and sound amazing. I wonder what a new large sized HomePod would look like and do? I couldn't care less what Siri does on it, but that's just me.
The original husky-boy HomePod sounds freakishly good for its size. I have mine sitting on a shelf on one end of an open lower level (~1000 sqft) and it easily fills the entire space with wonderful sound. On the same shelf system I have the remnants of my old analog HiFi system with decent speakers, a turntable, and an Apple TV and DAC plugged into the receiver's aux port. I can stream my Apple Music through either system. The old analog receiver can obviously put out more raw sound intensity, there's a certain nostalgia about using all of my old gear, and playing my old vinyl is cool. But truth be told, the HomePod isn't really a step down when it comes to the overall listening experience within the same space.
When I want to use the component based system I have to fire up my TV, Apple TV, receiver, and DAC and then use the Apple TV remote to either stream from Apple Music or point it to one of my Macs that contains my Apple Music collection locally. That's not a big deal, but to use the HomePod all I have to do is say "Hey Siri, play my music" and there it is, filling my space with music that sounds nearly as good as what my old component system can muster. Of course if you have a better HiFi system your experience may be quite different.
As others have probably discovered, Siri on the HomePod is o...k, and if you talk to it like you'd talk to a 3-year old and stay within a limited range of topics, like music, the weather, or requesting a podcast you'll probably get what you want. I'm okay with what Siri on HomePod does around 90% of the time, so it's no big deal. The sound quality of the HomePod more than makes up for the minor shortcomings that Siri sometimes presents.
I mostly use mine to listen to music and its my sound system for the AppleTV (I have 2 connected wirelessly which I love). The only thing I may have Siri do is skip a song, stop music and turn the lights on or off and maybe change the color from time to time. Other than that I couldn't care less about what else Siri does. I'm still amazed by how Siri can hear my commands with the music loud. The original HomePod was very good for what it was...it was just a little to expensive for most people IMO. I got both of mine for $199 each on sale at BestBuy.
A full sized HomePod is very good news! The sound quality of the Mini is just nowhere near the original full-size, so I’m up for it.