Apple HomePod Smart Speaker Is Officially Dead HomePod Mini Now the Focus
After four years of run time, Apple discontinues its original HomePod. Instead, the team will now focus on the HomePod Mini, which was introduced last year.
(Photo : Alexander Shatov / Unsplash)
The History of Apple HomePod
HomePod, the speakers of the house, is a smart speaker developed by Apple Inc. and released in 2018. It was designed to work with Apple Music Subscription and Siri s voice assist. It was an excellent speaker that delivered high-fidelity audio and adapted according to its location in the house.
HomePods was notable for its sound quality. The speaker was 6.8 inches tall with seven tweeters, six far-field microphones, and a bass-EQ microphone that intuitively analyzed the bass effect on the room. All of this is powered by Apple s A8 processor.
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Apple HomePod mini smart speaker
Apple on Saturday decided to discontinue its full-size HomePod smart speaker that was launched four years back, and will now aggressively promote HomePod mini that has been a stupendous success in the market.
The company told TechCrunch that it will now focus on HomePod mini and is “discontinuing the original HomePod”.
“We are focusing our efforts on HomePod mini. We are discontinuing the original HomePod, it will continue to be available while supplies last through the Apple Online Store, Apple Retail Stores, and Apple Authorized Resellers,” the company said in a statement.
Apple said it will provide HomePod customers with software updates and service and support through Apple Care.
Apple says goodbye to pricey HomePod smart speaker Mashable 3/14/2021
Apple has quietly shuffled the HomePod into retirement.
After three years of production, Apple will discontinue its smart speaker that was lauded for its sound quality, but criticized for a steep price tag and subpar Siri support. TechCrunch first reported the news, and obtained a statement from Apple:
HomePod mini has been a hit since its debut last fall, offering customers amazing sound, an intelligent assistant, and smart home control all for just $99. We are focusing our efforts on HomePod mini. We are discontinuing the original HomePod, it will continue to be available while supplies last through the Apple Online Store, Apple Retail Stores, and Apple Authorized Resellers. Apple will provide HomePod customers with software updates and service and support through Apple Care.
The original HomePod launched on February 9, 2018. It received pretty mixed reviews, with most heaping praise on the speaker s full-bodied sound quality, especially given its relatively small size. However, while the HomePod was an astounding home-run for sound quality, the “smart” part of the “smart speaker” moniker was where it disappointed some critics. In our HomePod review published at the time, Express.co.uk criticised Siri’s inability to play a number of popular radio stations, including BBC Radio 1, 2, and Radio 4, as well as play Spotify tracks. Siri has got better over the years with subsequent updates, but both of these issues still remain – three years after the HomePod first appeared on store shelves.