Apple Kills Original HomePod, Focusing On HomePod Mini

Apple recently announced that it would discontinue the first-generation HomePod and would shift focus to the new HomePod mini launched in October 2020. The first HomePod was released in 2018. There are only a few areas left that have the device in stock while some stores were announced to be out of stock on the Apple Store page.

HomePod is a line of high-end smart speakers designed to compete with Amazon Echo and Google Nest/Home. With the new HomePod mini, Apple brings to users a cheaper option when the starting price of the product is only $99, significantly cheaper than the $299 price of the HomePod 2018.

Despite killing off the HomePod, Apple has not announced that it would launch a new version of this product. This also means that is a consumer wants to buy a new HomePod, they will need to get the mini version.

Just like the original HomePod, the HomePod mini still sports a distinguished mesh fabric finish in both white and black. At the top, there is a small screen that houses the Siri logo and volume control buttons.

However, the new device is in the shape of a sphere instead of the first generation’s cylindrical design. The HomePod Mini has a main driver and two passive radiators. On the bottom is an “acoustic waveguide.”

Just like other products of Apple, the new HomePod Mini comes with the company’s chip, the Apple S5. This chip can deliver “compute audio” processing that adjusts your music volume 180 times per second.

When being paired and placed in the same room, multiple HomePod Mini can synchronize and play music together to create stereo sound. The device also has the U1 chip which was introduced last year for a better Handoff experience.

According to the company, the device will support third-party music apps like Amazon Music, Pandora, and iHeartRadio. Unfortunately, for Spotify users, the app isn’t on the list.

“Intercom” is an interesting feature of the HomePod Mini. It allows multiple HomePod devices placed in different rooms in the same house to communicate with each other. The Intercom messages also show up on connected Apple devices including iPhones, iPads, and Apple Watches.

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