Apple executives say "growing interest" in a larger HomePod has caused them to reconsider their decision to discontinue the original model.
When Apple discontinued the first HomePod in March 2021, the company announced that it would focus on the cheaper HomePod mini instead. After rumors of its return, a new, slightly redesigned HomePod was then announced in January 2023, which will be available from February 3, 2023. An Apple spokesperson explained opposite TechCrunch:
We've really heard a growing interest from our customers for the louder, richer acoustics of a larger speaker.
The spokesperson confirmed that Apple had no plans to re-release the HomePod. However, after deciding to re-release the HomePod, the company learned from its experience with the product. Matthew Costello, Apple's vice president of hardware engineering and operations, said:
We carefully studied the lessons learned from the first HomePod and HomePod mini, and we launched the new HomePod when it was able to meet our broad experience goals.
HomePod 2: This is why the stereo pair only works with the same generation
Costello did not give any specific goals, but it was not about changing the basic design of the HomePod.
Our teams really liked this direction in terms of shape and design. We were able to create a wonderful system within this structure.
However, the new HomePod is so different that Apple doesn't want to use it in a stereo pair with the original model. Costello explains this as follows:
With a stereo pair, it's important that the audio characteristics match to provide an optimal and balanced experience. The new HomePod delivers room-filling sound that users love—with even more detail, clarity, and layers than the original HomePod—so we wanted the acoustic imaging to be as pure and consistent as possible from generation to generation. The principle that the audio characteristics of a stereo pair match applies to HomePod mini, the original HomePod, and the new HomePod.
The first reviews of the new HomePod praise its audio quality and state that there is no major difference to the original. Anyone interested in the new smart speaker can purchase it from Apple for around 349 euros. (Image: Apple)
