Apple’s HomePod is hoping to gain the edge over other smart speakers with its superior sound quality. However, Amazon’s reportedly planning to fight back with its upcoming Echo standalone speaker refresh that will focus on a higher quality music experience.
According to Apple, its upcoming HomePod speaker will “reinvent the way we enjoy music” thanks to its seven-tweeter array, 4-inch woofer, and smart “spatial awareness” technology that lets it “read” its environment. (A patent published last week gave some indication of the smart tech Apple may be using to achieve this.)
Not to be outdone, a new report claims that the new Echo will also be “packing in several tweeters this time around, instead of just relying on one large tweeter and a woofer.” There’s no more detail on exactly what this will mean sound-wise, but if Amazon’s able to achieve comparable sound without raising its $180 Amazon Echo price point, that could be a blow for Apple.
Engadget‘s report also shares a few notes on the physical appearance of the next-gen Amazon Echo, which will reportedly be shorter and slimmer than the original model, “almost as if it were three or four Echo Dots stacked on top of each other.”
Amazon will additionally work to soften the design with rounded edges and a cloth-like covering.
Do you think that Apple will be able to challenge companies like Amazon and Google with its HomePod? Leave your comments below.
