UPDATE: This prediction can true very quickly. HomePod 2 launched on January 18. Get all the details:
- Apple resurrects full-size HomePod with hot new features, same old price
- HomePod 2 can’t join in stereo pair with earlier models
- Secret sensor in your HomePod mini will activate soon
Apple’s new full-size HomePod with even better sound quality could launch “fairly soon,” according to the latest rumor. The updated smart speaker should pack improved touch controls and feature Matter with Thread support for more reliable use as a home-automation hub. And it should come at a lower price than the original model.
The HomePod debuted in 2018, but Apple discontinued it in 2021 following poor sales due to its steep $299 price.
How soon will Apple announce the HomePod 2?
A Bloomberg report recently suggested Apple’s larger HomePod will launch this year. On Monday, reporter Mark Gurman said on Twitter that the speaker should launch “fairly soon.” While there’s no confirmed timeline, Apple could announce the new HomePod in Q1 2023.
The next HomePod should also be coming fairly soon https://t.co/WsByewy7hm
— Mark Gurman (@markgurman) January 16, 2023
Apple is rumored to announce new Mac products later today. However, the company’s new smart speaker is unlikely to debut so soon, given the lack of rumors around it. So, a Q1 2023 launch timeline seems more plausible. And since the full-size HomePod would be making a comeback of sorts, Apple might not want to announce it via a simple press release.
Apple’s new HomePod could deliver even better sound quality
As a follow-up to the original HomePod, Apple launched the HomePod mini in 2020. It delivered decent sound quality, and features similar to its full-size brother, but in a more compact size and at a lower price. However, the $99 mini model simply cannot provide the same sound quality — or volume — as the original HomePod.
The HomePod 2 reportedly has been in development for a while now. It should be similar in size to the original HomePod and deliver even better sound quality. Apple’s S8 chip, found inside the Apple Watch Ultra and the Apple Watch Series 8, supposedly will power the smart speaker.
Apple is reportedly also working on an iPad cradle with a built-in speaker. The device will work as a standalone HomePod smart speaker. With the iPad docked, it will act as a smart home hub for controlling your smart home devices.
