Apple Home Pod Review: A Premium Speaker And A Smart Home Hub

Apple HomePod offers two things at one: a smart home hub and a premium speaker. As a premium speaker, the device does an excellent job with its incredibly intuitive set-up and amazing sound. But as a smart home hub, not really. While Apple recently released the HomePod Mini, there isn’t any indication that the company would discontinue the original smart speaker. But with the competition from Amazon and Google, can a device with great sound but imperfect smart assistant worth buying? Continue reading our Apple HomePod review to find out.

Since its launch, Apple has launched a series of updates for the HomePod. The HomePod was late in the smart speaker game. However, Apple has never been worried about that. Although most of its products are on the more expensive prices, Apple also brings the most reliable tech and stylish designs to its consumers.

Apple HomePod Price & Availability

HomePod isn’t a cheap speaker. When it was first launched, its price was set at $349. Deliveries for the smart speaker began on February 9, 2018.

This means it was one of the market’s most expensive smart speakers at launch. But Apple wants to justify that price with Siri and premium-quality audio.

However, these days, you can buy it at a much cheaper price, around $299.

Apple HomePod Set-up

Similar to AirPods, all you need to do in setting up the device is hold your phone near the device. Your Apple ID as well as preferences for Apple Music will be sent over from your handset.

To set up the device, you will need an iPhone or iPad. The set-up process highlights one of the HomePod’s nice features: the glowing light located on the top.

Compared to the long process for the Sonos One or Amazon Echo, the whole process of setting up the HomePod is so swift.

In terms of ease of use, Apple has won the competition, no doubt. If you want to use a new WiFi network that you have already set up on your smartphone, you just need to grab the phone and move close to the smart speaker. And that’s it.

Apple HomePod Design

You will probably need two hands if you want to pick up the HomePod. That is because the speaker is heavy at 2.5kg with a 6.8-inch frame.

On the back is its port for power. There is no other physical connectivity besides this.

On the top is the glowing light to indicate that Siri is listening and processing your commands. There are icons to adjust the volume as well.

The buttons don’t offer haptic feedback. However, it isn’t a big deal since you will use your voice to control the device most of the time.

The HomePod, for sure, isn’t the most aesthetically looking speaker. However, its simplicity is its attractiveness.

Be warned, if you leave the device on certain surfaces, it can leave a white ring there. This problem has been acknowledged by Apple who says that the ring should disappear in a few days. However, there are consumers who claim that it can become a permanent ring.

For Apple HomePod specs, the device comes with Apple’s A8 chip, the one used in the iPhone 6. You may think that this is an old chip. However, it is quite a lot of power for a speaker.

Apple HomePod Audio Performace

The device’s audio quality is premium. It easily fills a room and clearly separates all elements within music tracks.

The bass is strong with sharp notes. With electronica, the device offers a lot of clarity. Comparing the device with the Sonos One and Amazon Echo, it can beat both of them.

The Amazon Echo has the lowest-quality sound but it isn’t terrible. The Sonos One is much closer to the Apple HomePod in terms of audio performance.

Siri

The Apple HomePod doesn’t only work as a speaker. This means, like other smart speakers out there, you can ask the HomePod for many things.

Should you get the Apple HomePod?

The Apple HomePod, is for sure, a great speaker. Its sound is rich and clear. However, there are other speakers on the market that can offer more than that. However, the HomePod from Apple sounds brilliant and it offers smart Siri functionality if you are someone who is familiar with the Apple ecosystem. We hope that our Apple HomePod review can help you with whether to spend money on the device.

>>> Apple Introduces New HomePod Mini With Smart Pairing, Only $99