Apple resurrects full-size HomePod with hot new features, same old price

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Apple unveiled HomePod 2 on Wednesday, the return of its full-size smart speaker. The new model offers high-quality audio and new smart-home features, but comes in at the same hefty price as its predecessor.

“With the popularity of HomePod mini, we’ve seen growing interest in even more powerful acoustics achievable in a larger HomePod. We’re thrilled to bring the next generation of HomePod to customers around the world,” said Greg Joswiak, Apple SVP of Worldwide Marketing.

HomePod 2 offers better sound than Apple’s smaller smart speaker

The first-generation HomePod debuted in 2018, and received equal parts praise for its audio quality and criticism for its $349 price. A drop to $299 did little to raise interest in the product so it was discontinued in 2021.

HomePod 2 launches at $299, and has the same general design as the original. And that includes top-quality audio.

“Leveraging our audio expertise and innovations, the new HomePod delivers rich, deep bass, natural mid-range, and clear, detailed highs,” promised Joswiak.

Home-automation extras

For fans of Apple’s HomeKit home-automation system, the speaker includes a new built-in temperature and humidity sensor. This allows users to create automations that close the blinds or turn on a fan automatically when a certain temperature is reached in a room.

With Sound Recognition, the device can listen for smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, and send a notification directly to the user’s iPhone if a sound is identified.

The HomePod 2 is available to order online and in the Apple Store app starting today, and it will start reaching customers beginning Friday, February 3. It comes in white and midnight colorways.

Apple likely brought it back after a market for the discontinued model sprang up. But that hasn’t been the only option: the HomePod mini is only $99.

Source: Apple