HomePod 2 wait times stretch out until March

By

Apple HomePod 2 in white and midnight
Demand for HomePod 2 has outstripped supply.
Photo: Apple

Order the recently unveiled HomePod 2 from the online Apple store today and it might not arrive until March. Preorders for the revived version of Apple’s full-size smart speaker have surpassed the launch-day supply.
There seems to be some pent up demand for the product.

Apple HomePod 2 is back, and back ordered

Some people may have wondered why Apple brought the full-size HomePod back. After launching it in 2018,  device was discontinued in 2021.

There’s clearly at least one reason for the return: demand. Apple began taking preorders for HomePod 2 on January 18 with a launch scheduled for Friday, February 3, but has since sold out of all the units prepared for launch day.

Place an order for one of the new smartspeakers from Apple.com on Monday, Jan. 30 and it won’t arrive until mid-February at the earliest.

The version with a white exterior is available quickest, with an estimated delivery between Feb. 17 and Feb. 22, with the earliest delivery requiring an external $8 fee.

There’s more apparently more demand for the midnight version. It won’t arrive before Feb. 21 without the additional shipping payment, and the delivery might be as late as March 1.

There might be another option, though. Apple promised the product will be in its retail stores on Feb. 3. The company typically reserves some stock for this purpose, so it might be possible to get the device from a brick-and-mortar location on that day without having preordered it. While supplies last, of course.

Whatever the delivery date or color, HomePod 2 costs $299.

Newsletters

Daily round-ups or a weekly refresher, straight from Cult of Mac to your inbox.

  • The Weekender

    The week's best Apple news, reviews and how-tos from Cult of Mac, every Saturday morning. Our readers say: "Thank you guys for always posting cool stuff" -- Vaughn Nevins. "Very informative" -- Kenly Xavier.