I pulled the trigger at $250 just a few weeks back and don't regret it. I thought my Harmon Kardon Onyx Studio sounded good, but then I turned the homepod on.. It absolutely overshadows the harmon kardon. Apple really needs to permanently lower the price to $250, because at that price it's truly a great deal.
Same here I had a HK Onyx Studio 2 (in fact I still do in my bedroom) and have the HomePod in the living room. EVERYBODY who comes over loves it, myself included. The sound quality is solid and watching my friends beef each other to get Siri’s attention will never get old
I have the HK Onyx studio and the HomePod as well. But, I find the HK much louder and fuller than the HomePod. But the HomePod sounds better overall. Both are great, but the HomePod blows it away on sound quality. The HK is just more “loud” which is sometimes great. But if I’m chilling in my bedroom I use my HomePod and love there detailed audio quality. I recommend it to everyone. (It’s also shamed me into paying for Apple Music. )
Avinash Beghi the problem with the HK is that it’s crossover point completely kills sub bass almost entirely, this is where the HomePod shines. HK also has boosted mids with completely absent lows so while it gets louder, a song with bass tones under 80-100hz will sound flat and leaves you feeling dissatisfied. I’ve also found that HK has a real bad thing for “sweet spots” as to where you place them. Bass can sound heavy sitting on the left side of the couch but flat when you sit on the right side of the couch. Homepods mics (almost) completely rid this problem. To me, I want to hear the full spectrum of audio range when I listen to music and HomePod does just that for me. I’d say a $299 price tag would be perfect for the HomePod
Found a barely used Homepod on CL for $200. Worth every penny. Sound is excellent. No need to install in wall speakers throughout the house and connect to an amp like in the past. Buy a few of these and place around the house and patio and your good to go. Simply excellent.
Have two of them, bought early so lost out on the $100 drop on each, but still very happy with my purchases. Stereo sound is fantastic and the sound is rich in bass and clarity at any volume. Now at $250 (sale) they are now at a sweet spot for price vs. a quality Apple product. I bought for the sound, not Siri.
aotero u Yes, I just wanted something that sounded really good and I bought one after watching many positive RUclips videos on reviews of these Apple HomePods for ‘their sound quality’, and not how smart (or not) Siri is when incorporated within these speaker’s. I actually bought one and it sounded so good, I bought another even before they had the long awaited update for pairing them for stereo. I knew they were going to sound amazing once that took place, and I was right. Siri is smart enough to play the music I ask for without moving an inch, and with more updates, it will only get better. I think if they sell these at $250 going forward, they could really make a difference when people decide which brand to buy. Yes, I imagine audiophiles maybe picking up a set for a bedroom or kitchen and having their ultimate sound system in the living room or dedicated sound room.
Educated Melanin good point, yeh I figured those $250 HomePod prices were because of the past November Black Friday and Christmas holiday periods, but really if Apple wanted to sell millions of these, they would drop the price. Yet, they are supposedly making a cheaper smaller HomePod speaker that should be coming out this year which will probably cost $200-$250 to bring more into homes that way.
I won’t disagree, it’s an amazing product and I absolutely love using mine... but the Apple Watch and/or AirPods are also up in the running when it comes to favorite product for me.
Have to admit. One HomePod is good but a stereo pair is even better. The 360 sound means you can put just one in the middle of a room and have adequate sound throughout. No other speaker does that and there is nothing as simple as Airplay 2.
Thank you for the updated review. I bought 4 Homepods over the holidays at the discounted price of $250. They have exceeded my expectations in term of sound quality especially when pairing them. Will start looking into Homepod enabled products for my home.
I also bought my HomePod for $250 with the sale, and was using it for the audio comparison. It is very clearly which sounded better, especially for 360 degree sound. I love using my HomePod and it has even impressed friends that didn’t think it was worth it. Using it with Apple Music is easy, and as I grow my smart home, it’s nice to have a good sounding speaker that can also control those devices as well.
I’m an audio file and own very high end speakers and listen to “my bathroom” speaker doesn’t make me feel like I’m missing any sound quality. It’s a bookshelf speaker that truly has amazon sound and the mic’s are excellent as it hear you very, very well.
Me too. I have a Sonos Play One in the bathroom for news and music while doing the morning ritual. It's fine for this, but I can't imagine using it for anything else. I'm a dyed in the wool Audiophile and have a lot of expensive gear. Matt nailed my demographic perfectly.
I received a couple of HomePods for Christmas to replace the 3 google minis that we had throughout the house. They (minis) didn't do that good of a job controlling my smart home equipment which was infuriating. Almost all of our lighting is Philips Hue. We also have an Ecobee 4, 2 august smart locks, and several smart plugs. The HomePods do such an awesome job of controlling everything in the house. I can almost whisper, and they almost always hear my requests. I have experienced an issue with one of them (not both, ironically) failing to make the connection to my Philips Hue lights. After resetting it, it works fine. I'm hoping they're on sale again soon for $249, because I want a 3rd so that I can use a stereo pair in the living room (our current second one is in our office). The sound is pretty good too. I listen to several genres of music, with 90s R&B being my favorite. I also enjoy rap and hip hop, pop, music from both the baroque and romantic periods. Regardless of what I play, these things sound great. I definitely think they're worth the $250. I'd be willing to buy ONE at $350 if they had never been on sale. But since they have, I'll be waiting for the sale again before I pull the trigger on that 3rd one!
OH! Having Google anything in my house with a microphone or camera is terrifying. I don't trust 'em at all. Not saying Apple is completely innocent or perfect, but I trust Apple with my conversations and personal information far more than I trust google to listen in on my conversations! That's another reason we got rid of the Google Home minis
Really great rundown. Thanks for sharing! Definitely go with the companies you trust when it comes to these always listening devices. In two weeks I have a video comparing Google, Siri, and Amazon smart speakers and shortly after that I have one on Privacy Protection ... hitting your second posts reasoning square on the head.
First of all, HomeKit support is really lacking, and there is only around 600 HomeKit devices, and around 150 of those devices are support for AirPlay on other smart speakers or other sound related devices. So really you have around 450 supported HomeKit devices. Amazon supports over 60,000 home devices. Google supports 50,000 home devices. Siri is also lacking big time, and it's voice support for other things like other apps is just crap, especially compared to the other voice platforms.
I just have a single HomePod but I love it. The audio quality is unmatched for it’s size. I couldn’t believe the lows that come out it. Around 50% volume is perfect. I keep it in my bedroom and love the way it sounds in that room. Though it doesn’t sound as good in my living room because of the much larger area and really tall ceilings. It’s still just as clear, just not a good bass. I plan on getting another to use in stereo mode in my room.
I think a big point you are missing is the privacy. Privacy is also what slows down Apple since it does not download and analyse all conversations in the room like amazone and google do. So it is all about privacy and am willing to pay more aslong as my privacy is guaranteed. People selling their privacy for just getting cheaper speaker is in my opinion making yourself an easy target for google and amazone to even more sell you happy short lived feelings. Where the real problem is that tech will never make you happy as a person, you have to make yourself happy and one pre-requisite is freedom to think, speak and do. That is exactly what google, amazone, facebook take away with there market model --> free services but more advertisement to get you to buy stuff you and the world don't need. :-)
Exactly! Privacy is a huge issue that so many tech reviewers seem to overlook. Apple is the only mainstream tech company I am aware of that doesn't sell private information.
I actually haven’t missed that point, but decided not to focus on that angle for this specific video. The reason ... I have a video coming out in two weeks on privacy (already shot and am in the process of editing it now). Apple is the only giant tech company taking this stand and making it a major marketing point of their products. I wish more companies would take that stance, as well as more people thinking about what they’re trading for these services. Stay tuned!
Um, so Amazon, Google and Sonos Speakers have 'always' had the option to turn of the Mics... Apple had to receive an update that added the "Mic off" feature in 1Q 2018. www.theverge.com/2018/1/22/16918344/homepod-icons-ios-beta So, Apple doesn't sell your data.. they simply have a lengthy App-approval process that explicitly allows the covert collection and selling of your data via the App Store and its apps. Don't forget your iPhone has a very specific use for the IDFA (Advertising Identifier) - can you guess what that's for? I guess going to Settings->Privacy->Advertising and turning off "Limit Ad Tracking" is because they are not collecting data on you??? Real 1984 'double-think' going on here... www.forbes.com/sites/thomasbrewster/2018/09/07/a-load-of-apple-iphone-apps-are-covertly-selling-your-location/#79ba2e065832 guardianapp.com/ios-app-location-report-sep2018.html If you are thinking you are somehow more private or safer with Apple.. well, to each their own.
There’s a huge difference between an app collecting data on you and Apple, Google, Facebook, or Amazon doing it themselves. The “limit ad tracking” isn’t any kind of gotcha here. Apple uses tracking to show you relevant ads in the App Store, Apple News, and stocks apps. Flip that toggle and that tracking stops. Again, it’s not that this type of tracking is bad (I’m making the trade myself as a Google user), but it’s how Apple, Amazon, Facebook, and Google use that data, protect that data, and how much of it can be tracked back directly to you. How much control do you have over your own data. It’s not an anti-Google or anti-Amazon statement ... just a fact. And something we all need to think about because we keep getting burned by companies playing too fast and loose with our data. Amazon/Ring employees spying on customer videos for instance. Not good.
@@UndecidedMF Thanks for the reply. I don't want to start a flame war on such a subject, so please do take it as a wholesome disagreement :-) I believe that claiming Apple as some kind of privacy advocate is simply the echo-chamber of Apple's marketing department. While there are things to "like" about Apple's security and public stance on the issue... their actions and what actually bears out to be fact and not marketing/lies is what really matters. Nobody can really claim to know what Apple has because their OS is fully closed source, not the case with much of the others. Apple had the most insecure OS in OSX and iOS in 2015, but they said they had the best... in the face of overwhelming evidence. Is it the same story now, for privacy? freedomhacker.net/apple-os-x-rated-most-vulnerable-software-2015-4861/ I'm not claiming others are better, only that Apple lay in the same echelon of poor-privacy. The Safari Browser and other Apple-made and controlled apps have been the Achilles heal of Apple's privacy (by design?)... along with the blind-eye approach on their App store for the better part of a decade... eh, as long as the apps sell! WE KNOW Apple isn't secure and that all the major players are working for the NSA/CIA/FBI per the Snowden papers.. so we need to stop pretending this isn't the case... the SEP secure keys are hacked and there are at least two lighting cable decryption devices/services for sale to the "public". www.wired.com/story/apple-differential-privacy-shortcomings/ " a new study, which delves deeply into how Apple actually implements the technique, suggests the company has ratcheted that dial further toward aggressive data-mining than its public promises imply." "Apple oversells its differential privacy protections. "Apple’s privacy loss parameters exceed the levels typically considered acceptable by the differential privacy research community,".... ....."By taking apart Apple's software to determine the epsilon the company chose, the researchers found that MacOS uploads significantly more specific data than the typical differential privacy researcher might consider private. iOS 10 uploads even more. And perhaps most troubling, according to the study's authors, is that Apple keeps both its code and epsilon values secret, allowing the company to potentially change those critical variables and erode their privacy protections with little oversight." Lower Epsilon number is better. "Google's Epsilon is 4" "MacOS's implementation of differential privacy uses an epsilon of 6, while iOS 10 has an epsilon of 14" "researchers found that the beta version of iOS11 has an epsilon of 43" "[For Apple], After two days of uploads, the analysts would know about that medical condition with virtually 100 percent certainty. "Even after just one day, you’ve already blown this really strong security," McSherry says."
Homepod 1 acquired April 2019. Sound: WOW. Homepoad 2 acquired May 2019. Incredible speakers, super easy setup & configuration. Hat-trick: easy RECONFIGURATION- easily move to/from rooms, pair/unpair stereo sets, etc. Technical design is a game-changer, these are 'anywhere everywhere' speakers that 'just so happen to be smart-speakers.' If these were 'only' wireless speakers they'd still be highly rated. RECOMMENDATION: if you have an iphone take one home for a test-drive for at least a couple days. Good listening to you :)
I have three of these and I love them. The sound is amazing!! I can tell one of them to play my favorite album everywhere at whatever volume level I want and they fill my entire house with sound. Even at 100 percent volume there is no distortion.
I like the device but without the ability to stream from other music services its a non-starter for me. I switch between the streaming services to regularly to be locked into one service
Yeah, that’s a big downside right now, but with Siri Shortcuts hopefully those services will start supporting it with their phone apps. If they do, then it might be an option again.
@@David-xt5ob What I don't understand is, are you married to Spotify? You can cancel and change these services at any time. Apple Music is cheaper and has more songs. So why is that a "no-starter"?
I use all the services. I find Apple Music to have a bad recommendation engine with a heavy leaning towards hip-hop and r&b style music. While I enjoy that music I also enjoy a lot of other music which its poor at finding. In addition iTunes is an incredible bloated piece of software and the iPhone app is not great. So I wouldn't buy a $500 AUD speaker to be locked into what I consider to be one of the weaker streaming options
I live in Chile, we can not buy the HomePod here, but I went to USA in 2018 and bought one! It is amazing! Now is part of our life, and also is helpful to improve our languages skills, because we are using Siri in English even when is most difficult to us, but anyway still works and Siri understand us, even when our pronunciation is not the best. I think this is another point of view of this lovely product.
That’s awesome! And I’m impressed that you’re using it in English. I definitely would struggle horribly if I tried to use Siri in another language. Heck, I sometimes struggle with English! ;-)
Ha! I’m still dumbfounded that I’m at 11K right now and not at 1K. I really appreciate all of you guys ... just keep watching, commenting, and liking the videos! And tell your friends ;-).
Totally agree with the above. I'm a huge fan of your relaxing, informative approach to these topics. Not to mention, I feel like I can stay glued because I feel like you're talking directly to me in a lecture I actually chose and want to go to. So glad I stumbled across your channel. Keep it up!
I purchased a HomePod and the "wow" made me buy a second one. Even at regular price, I say go! The sound is awesome, Siri is getting much better and the HomeKit integration is practical and fun. I asked Siri if she has a sister but I think she’s jealous. Fix this apple please.
I have 2 HomePods in stereo mode. They sound easily better than most upper-middleclass hi-fi systems, but are portable and without any cable hassle. I love them. I listen only classical music and particularly baroque harpsichord music - every time I turn it on it's like a revelation. The best 700€ I've ever spent.
@@UndecidedMF BTW: Funniest single HomePod review on the internet: ruclips.net/video/_Lz7dxfNXL8/видео.html Funniest stereo HomePod review: ruclips.net/video/Uftil4Dywpw/видео.html
people always complain about the price, but considering it costs 216 to make, i think it needs to be minimum 300 for apple to cover marketing, r and d, updates, store space, and service (warranty and repairs).
I just purchased a HomePod, they were on sale for $199 at Best Buy, after updating it to iOS 13.3, I have to say that this was one solid investment. I couldn’t be more pleased with the sound reproduction and the smart features that have been implemented since its inaugural release. I will be purchasing a second HomePod for stereo playback soon.
Thanks you for providing exactly what I was looking for. I’m 32 years old and you’re the first person on RUclips I’ve ever subscribed to! Your presentation was smooth, well thought out easy to follow and even funny at times! Keep up the great work! 👌🏻 Additionally please give us a call at Apple technical support and maybe we can use our tools to diagnose the inconsistency on your controls between your phone! Thank you again! New Subscriber!
LOVE my HomePOd. I had it less than a week and bought another one. Plan on getting [2] more. Great review. No - it’s not for everyone, but for those of us who are bass sensitive and above average music quality listeners (but not true audiophiles), this speaker rocks.
This was the best, most critical yet fair assessment of the HomePod. It’s criminal you don’t have more subscribers and Ryan’s Toy Review makes $22 million. Gained one more sub from me 👍🏼
i got stereo pair for my apple tv and one homepod in my office. I'm very pleased with my homepods despite the price. I also finished equiping my house with philips hue and other smart home devices. It all comes together with having Homepods and Sonos One's spread around the house to control stuff. I feel i belong to the target audience, but that target feels way too specific.
Great sound, and I just bought another one. A few months ago a friend took down his expensive speakers and replaced them with two home pods. He kept bugging me to get a second one, and said I would not regret it. Love them. Great sound, low footprint.
I think 250 is the true price they should be. At CES this year many more support HomeKit Devices were released and Siri is slowly getting better. I am going to buy a second for stereo sound to use with my Apple TV and listening to music.
I understand this video was shot in January of 2019 but I just wanted to let everyone know that I just bought 2 HomePods from OWC on December 27th 2019 at $186 a piece. So you can find some deals out there. Mine won't be here till Monday the 30th so I can't tell you how great they sound...And Matt Ferrell, Thanks for the great review !!
I’ve been a Home Automation hobbyist since the 80s. I have setup both HomeKit and Alexa as front ends for my system. The HomePod + HomeKit system is clearly superior the Amazon system. Sometime after I put a HomePod in my bedroom, the battery in the wall mounted Insteon died and I just recently noticed. HomeKit + HomePod + Shortcuts is a real power house, especially since the 12.1.3 update.
I passed the homepod by until this Christmas. Now that I can make a still pair and they were on sale for $250 I bought 2. I am VERY happy with the sound quality and use the hompods for my audio out on apple TV. I also have all hue lighting in my house and Siri is faster than Alexa and Google home hands down for light control.
Of all the smart speakers on the market, the Echo Dot and Show are by far the best. Both "know" they are not good speakers and provide a 3.5mm jack that opens up a whole new world of possibilities. I have connected a dot to an older NAD 3130 integrated amp, and some brand new ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 speakers purchased on sale for $149.00/pair. The same combination is also connected to my computer via USB to a Schiit Audio Modi 3 DAC purchased for $99.00. Much better sound, multiple inputs and a smart component via Alexa for less money than attempting stereo by purchasing Home Pods. Yes, I cheated and used an older integrated amp, but it's possible to purchase a new NAD c 316bee for less than $400 and still say close to if not under the price of dual Home Pods.
That’s what I was getting at in my review ... that a custom built setup can absolutely beat the HomePod, but for an all in one device that does it all ... it’s pretty damn impressive. I also have an Echo Dot plugged into a nice set of Audio Engine speakers/sub in my office (sounds damn good), but it’s a setup that requires a lot of wires, plugs, etc. I’m fine with that, but don’t think that’s average consumer behavior.
Spot on video....I bought a HomePod as an experiment and put it in the kitchen. 6 months later I bought 3 more for master bathroom, office, daughters bedroom. LOVE them. My iMac pushes iTunes/Apple Music out to the house. Siri is ok. It works to verbally add appts, reminders, check weather, a few Siri shortcuts...all I need. I won't use the Alexa ecosystem due to privacy. There are minor hiccups in Airplay connectivity. If my Mac has been asleep for the evening and I decide to play music in the AM, sometimes there is an error dialogue stating that it couldn't connect to 1 or 2 of the HomePods. And my home network is a blue flame blowtorch of Ubiquiti Mesh saturation. A simple restart of iTunes corrects the connectivity issue most of the time..
I just added a second Homepod for stereo and have noticed one small connection issue myself with it losing stereo playback. It’s only happened once, so I’m not sure how to replicate it. In the middle of a song it just stopped coming out of one speaker. Stopping playback and disconnecting/reconnecting the Airplay stream made everything work again. Ever experienced anything like that? A stream just dropping out during playback?
@@UndecidedMF I have noticed dropouts periodically. Maybe one every other day for 2-3 seconds through once device. It self repairs. I don't have a stereo pair in any rooms. The most annoying thing for me is the occasions when the music through 2 devices gets out of sync by a millisecond. Have you had that? It will be streaming in 2 separate rooms and If you stand in the hallway you can tell they are out of sync, subtly. It usually occurs after pausing the music or advancing a song or something where you interfered with the stream in some fashion.
Yes, I have experienced that too across all of my Airplay speakers (Sonos, Denon Receiver, HomePod, Apple TVs), not just the Homepod specifically. It typically happens if I’m scrubbing through audio or skipping songs rapidly. I’m planning on filing a Radar with Apple on the issue.
@@UndecidedMF One other oddity I experience with airplay devices, Sometimes Im streaming to 3 of them, and if I decide to bring the 4th, maybe in the upstairs bathroom, my volumes all lower. Even though the 4th device volume is set fairly normal. Then if I uncheck them all, then add them back in it corrects. Just weird volume stuff.
We purchased our Homepod soon after its release. All of your points are in accord with our experiences over the past months. Yes...the price needs to come down a bit..and being a subscriber to Apple Music is a critical factor. We look forward to continuing improvements in Siri. Thank you for this objective and well produced review.
Thanks, man. You just post it right on time. I stuck deciding what to buy 1. Sonos One and Beam(tv) or 2. Homepod and beam(tv). Now I'm definitely going with 2nd option as it can be paired together anyway and give me control of my Homekit devices.
Going that route opens up a lot of possibilities. Glad you found it useful! Keep an eye out for the video I have coming out today where I compare Siri, Alexa, and Google.
I asked for and got one for Christmas (purchased for $250 from BB). I Iiked to so much I bought another right away (again for $250 from BB). The original one is in the Bedroom (my original intention was to just get the one for the bedroom). The other is in my living room. Even though I have a full home theatre system (Paradigm with HSU sub FWIW) I like having the HP by my chair for casual listening/late night etc. BTW I tried them out as a stereo pair after I got them and thought they sounded great and would work well as a "main" system for a lot of folks. The sound they put is amazing, especially the bass from such a small footprint. Friends are amazed when they come over. The one in the living room is sitting on top of my HSU subwoofer and they think it is on when I play the HP! Of course, it doesn't have the extra deep response of a real sub, but through psychoacoustics and sound analysis, it certainly gives a close effect.
That’s a really good set of gear for your home theater setup. And I completely agree on your point that while it’s not as deep a response as a real sub, Apple is doing some exceptional sound shaping to give the illusion of a deep low end. It’s pretty remarkable. I still think the $250 price point is the sweet spot for the speaker. Glad to see that Apple officially dropped the price by $50 now (to $300), so it’s not too far off now.
Leo Laporte on Mac break weekly desecrated the HomePod on his show comparing it to sonos 4 ,the google home max and other rival company smart speakers. he went out of his way to find fault with Apple’s brilliant sounding speaker and claimed that there were speakers that sounded better. I bought a HomePod and absolutely love it.
I have family with one, she loves it, it sits up high away from the kids... The Siri function is what she says she likes the best, no remote required, and the sound is loud enough to fill her main room. Me, I'm not interested, but can definitely see where it is a good pick for some folks.
Having Sonos (play 1 and 5, no sub) and HomePod I 100 % agree with the video. Thanks! Most important thing for me is audio quality. The HomePod sounds notably better. For smart stuff I don’t care so much. However, I couldn’t figure out how to play radio stations on the bare HomePod without an iPhone streaming to it. Hope someone at Apple finds out how to implement that soon as well as supporting other music streaming services.
Thanks for watching! I think Siri Shortcuts is the beginning of getting things like radio stations, etc. working on it. I’m hoping/expecting to see a lot of Siri improvements over the next year or two.
Sure, a couple of radio streaming apps provide shortcuts that work well on HomePod. Issue is that those shortcuts actually run the app on your iPhone/iPad streaming to the HomePod. When you leave the house taking your iPhone the shortcut doesn't work anymore. At least that is my experience. My family complained. In contrast, the Sonos One or Play:1/Alexa combo streams directly to to the speaker.
Yeah, I hope Apple updates the HomePod to work better with multiple users and devices. Right now it will only stream from the device that was used to set it up. For me, I have an iPad that never leaves the house, so setting up the HomePod with that pretty much ensures that all the functionality is there even if I’m not home. Ideally, more would be processed directly on the HomePod, or you’d be able to have a family group of devices that could all work seamlessly with it. How cool would it be if the HomePod recognized each family member’s voice, and would stream directly from their device instead of yours?
Also got one at $250 And was impressed enough to go out at that price and grabbed another one and have them paired. They sound great in a room about 15’x15’ room aprox
Almost got cold feet buying mine last year in October from the Apple store as a birthday gift for myself. I had seen most of the reviews in comparison to Google and Amazon products and most seemed to favour either one of the latter mostly due to the price. It didn't help that Best Buy was right across the street with all the brand options available!!! But I have other Apple products and had enjoyed each and everyone of them, some which have been around since 2011 like my MacBook Pro without any major hitches. Eventually the Sales guy at Apple won me over cause he didn't try and crowd me with a sales pitch and gave me room to make my own mind up and when he found me a single homepod player as opposed to a pair playing (which is what I listened to at first and almost wasn't quite convinced), I was sold from the first few notes that came out of it. Thank you for your great review. Never tried the others (Google's or Amazon's) but what you said about the Homepod's sound..is what won me over and am glad I bought it.
It really is a case of hearing is believing, isn’t it? It’s still obviously a limited product since you have to be in the Apple ecosystem (Windows and Android users need not apply), but it’s a phenomenal speaker with smarts that are getting better as time goes on.
Could not agree more..Siri keeps cracking me up with what "she" know's or doesn't... like the other day using Siri I was able to find my phone within the apartment..when I thought to ask if it could find it....and it did...by it making my phone emit an audible repetitive beep...but it could not do the same with my 2011 MacBook...yet I can receive phone calls on my MacBook from my phone...but the fact that it could...where nowhere I have read says it can...is as you said smarts!! @@UndecidedMF
Good video, but it might need updating as the HomePod’s got even better since you filmed it. Despite all the negative reviews I bought my first HomePod in Oct19, just as iOS 13.2.1 became available, and I was so impressed with it I immediately bought another (a third will be along soon). Audio quality is brilliant (expected), but the other features like multi-user support, Tunein radio and handoff (brilliant) have totally transformed it from the product the early reviews hit on so badly. Its new lower price is bang-on and if only Apple would add support for other music services then I think it will become the smart speaker of choice for most Apple users.
Thanks for the review! I've been really torn over which smart speaker to invest in and I think you helped me decide. I'm going with the Homepod. The price, well, sucks! But my main things are sound quality and Apple integration as I use an iPhone, iPad, and AppleTV. I also want to venture into the world of smart home stuff like controlling lights, temp, etc. What I decided to do is to get the Homepod and set it up in my bedroom for my Apple music use in there. I will make my bedroom a "smart" room (with compatible plugs, thermostat, bulbs, etc.). Once I set up my bedroom as a smart-room I can then tell if I want to extend that to my whole house by adding more Homepods or with a different system entirely while still keeping the Apple system for the bedroom. Thanks again for your great review. You hit all the issues I wanted to hear.
I love my HomePod. I’d buy another one if I was home a bit more. Great sound and I’m actually impressed with Siri she does exactly what I need her to do.
for the most part I've been using the Homepod for music and it was my main purpose of purchase and I love it. Also, I prefer airplay over Bluetooth that I used to use because the video or audio I play on my iPhone doesn't interrupt the music playing. it is especially important to me when there are others listening to music and I don't want to interrupt it to play a video or audio etc.
The Gotdamn thing is awesome I get it now. It’s not a Bluetooth speaker and I realize that and I love this thing works great at home for its intended use. Also Best Buy has them forever for 249.99 so I got two which was lovely and worth it all day in my book
Yours is probably the best HomePod review out there. Your observations are spot on. I have one HomePod, but am intrigued by true stereo capability. Perhaps if/when they go on sale for $250, I might bite.
I have to chime in on buying a second one, after owning my first one for six months. I definitely noticed the difference at first listen, and I was fully expecting ‘buyer’s remorse’ or just more of the same. But it definitely sounded fuller, richer and more expansive. If I were to describe before and after, I don’t know that I would describe it as “three times better”...but I definitely wouldn’t argue with it!!
HomePod’s are Great. Run as background speakers for my Apple TV. Siri on Pods used to rum my Homekit. Change Stereo to match were I am in the room... I could go on
I have had a great experience with the Homepod. Bought 4 of them, and they are currently streaming Airplay throughout my house flawlessly. The only issue is my network, which causes some latency (drop out vs. lag - they are all always in sync!). I actually bought them as streaming Airplay speakers to create a sound environment throughout my house, and they exceeded my expectations. I consider Siri to be a bonus feature, and did not expect much out of it, so I was not disappointed. Have successfully hooked up a power switch and some Eve environmental monitors very easily using the Eve app, whose easy integration with Apple Home bordered on magical. Yes, you heard me, I said magical. And remember, the Homepod is just a piece of hardware - the software can easily be upgraded and Siri made much smarter and more capable. The future is bright for this excellent product, and only competition from two major players like Amazon and Google has kept the Homepod from achieving the level of success it deserves.
You hit the nail on the head with the software angle. The hardware is amazing and the software is continuing to get better. So much potential to an already great product.
I am not a true audiophile but am very much bought into the apple Ecosphere. I was provided a demo at an Apple store itself where I think it may have been a Sonos v HomePod comparison. Despite the higher price I recognised the benefit of the integration for what just needed to be a great speaker system in the small study I have that is hooked up to my MacBook Pro, Sony Bravia TV and apple TV. I must agree the sound is excellent and the voice activation linked to my library(I use iTunes Match rather than Apple Music ) as a more cost effective way to access all my music effortlessly.
The first time I was introduce to the homepod was at my brothers home. He was operating his lights and television and I fell in love with the sound. Nothing sounds better. I almost bought one today but that $350 price scared me away. If it was $250 i would be unboxing it right now.
I also bought into the HomePod from Best Buy @ the reduced price, that lasted for several weeks, during the Holiday Season. Apple may have been 'testing the waters' for a looming price drop. However, I'm beginning to think they may actually drop the price to $299, possibly during the March 2019 introduction of the iPad 10" & iPad Mini 5. Great video update!
I love my HomePod, but I think the $250 is just the right price point when you consider the features. Like the Apple Watch, the future software updates will greatly enhance the customer experience. I bought a HomePod in lieu of a sound bar. However, my Apple TV can’t set the HomePod as its default output, so I have to set the output each time I use it. That’s about my only complaint.
Yeah, even though you can pair it out an Apple TV, it’s not built for that ... yet. That might be able to be updated in a software update, but who knows if they’ll prioritize that.
I’m normally a ‘first adopter’ when it comes to Apple products, but held off until Nov ‘18 before buying my HomePod. Wish I’d bought it earlier - sound alone justifies the cost, and Siri isn’t as bad as all that. I’d buy it again..
I had one for about six months and got rid of it. It sounded great, but if I am going to automate my home, i am not spending $350 for multiple Home Pods when I can just buy a $30 Echo Dot and place in each room. I am not looking for high quality sound. But the $250 price is great. Apple needs to come out with smaller satellite pods that work in conjunction with the larger pod. Then I'm in!
Couldn’t agree more. I love mine (got a second one for stereo) for listening to music and home automation in the room they’re in, but there’s no way I’m going to buy one or two for each room in the house. There really should be a HomePod Mini.
I bought 3 HomePods to replace a basic amazon echo setup (1 echo plus and 2 echo dots) and was pretty happy with the sound quality and the design of the HomePod however, I can’t stand Siri! Alexa was so much faster with responses and could respond to way more requests. Half the time I would tell Siri to turn lights on and she would pause for awhile and say “just a second” (lol) Alexa never had this issue. Also the compatibility just isn’t there for the HomePod and for the price ($350 each) it just was not worth the money just for playing music, maybe for some people it is but for me it just wasn’t. The specific compatibility I’m referring to is really with our 3 nest cameras, thermostat, security hub and smoke/CO sensors, Siri didn’t work with any of it. I ended up returning all 3 homepods and bought 2 of the new Sonos beam soundbars that have Alexa built in and a Sonos one for our bathroom and honestly have never been happier! I did like the HomePod but I’ll wait a couple years for HomePod 2 and a much better lineup of smart home support (hopefully).
I’ve just bought my second HomePod to create a stereo pair and the sound is amazing. I agree that at full price they are just a bit overpriced, even taking the quality into account. But with a special pay monthly deal through my employers I just couldn’t resist!
the music can play direct from the homepod and it can be played from the iphone also. it’s confusing because sometimes you don’t know if it’s coming from the iphone through airplay or from homepod directly through the apple music internet. odd. apple needs to figure out the dilemma.
I live in Toronto (Canada) and our prices are $100 more over here (so $450) and for the longest time I wanted the HomePod when it was released. I didn’t purchase it because price and saved up and bought a Bose speaker instead. It was horrible with Apple Music and only forced me to connect to their stations. So I returned it and just got a HomePod. I wanted to test it out and return it but... I bit the apple and it’s probably one of the best purchases I made in 2018 hands down. Purchased this in November. Not sure if our Best Buy had the same sale ... (Sad I missed it if I did because that’s where I had bought mine as well) but I WILL without a doubt be needing a second of for that full experience you and everyone else is saying. I just need to find a much cheaper one or when the price drops... but I want one now. Thank you for the video. So many videos on RUclips are negative and don’t even give the HomePod another change at all even AFTER all the amazing updates he had last year since the release.
Thanks for watching! That’s part of why I made the video. I wasn’t seeing anyone revisit it after all the Siri updates and sales that were going on. Glad you liked it. I’ve been shopping around for a used HomePod because that’s the easiest way to save $100 or more.
Undecided with Matt Ferrell thank you! Also. If you do end up getting another speaker would you do a Stereo pair video review as a mini update on how you feel? I’d love to hear your opinion. I’m definitely going to get one regardless myself though.
Thanks! Not sure I’d compare a single HomePod to the M3, but the HomePod has excellent definition like the M3. And the way it directs sound around a room without a sweet spot is similar to the M3’s immersive audio setting.
Hey Matt, Great video bud. I just want to give you my personal opinion. I have two Homepods and I love them, they sound amazing when paired up without a doubt! And I only paid $125 for one and i traded a couple things and paid $80 for the second one. So I am proud of that too lol. I am truly hoping that Apple will come up with some great updates for Siri this year. For the record 75% of my house is automated and Siri is without a doubt the fastest, response wise, for any automation in my house.
Thanks! I’m looking to get a second HomePod now, but am trying to find a good deal on one. Something tells me I won’t find as good a deal as you got though ... nicely done. Siri really is responsive, isn’t she? Google Assistant has been growing on me and is definitely better to use that Alexa now, but there are times where it’s really, really slow to respond.
Undecided with Matt Ferrell absolutely. I love Siri for my lights and all. I use my Apple Watch 4 and my iPhone XS Max for everything along with my homepods. I love apple. I have a couple google mini and I recently bought the third generation echo dot and it’s great, way better than the last one (WAY BETTER LOL). Now if you don’t care about some things being used you can check the Facebook market place and get a HomePod for 200 dollars. Guaranteed. Let me know if you do please. I wanna do videos also since I have a lot of tech I just can’t get myself to take the leap.
This is only a theory (I’d love to talk to an Apple/Google engineer to get the inside details), but from what I understand it’s because Apple is doing more processing locally on your iPhone, iPad, or HomePod than Google or Amazon. Apple has the fastest mobile processors out there right now and has custom silicon for breaking down the Siri commands on device before having to hit the cloud for answers. www.imore.com/how-hey-siri-works www.quora.com/How-does-Google-Assistant-work And there are more recent reports that Apple is actively working on trying to make Siri more capable locally ... without the need for an internet connection at all. appleinsider.com/articles/18/11/15/apple-considering-offline-mode-for-siri-that-could-process-voice-locally-on-an-iphone It’s all interesting stuff ... really curious to see how Siri continues to improve because Google still has a big lead with accuracy/natural language.
Undecided with Matt Ferrell That would be insane. Without internet? Got to love the Apple echo system. Check this out. facebook.com/marketplace/item/584739801965281/
Nicely done. I got a HomePod when it first came out and I felt he sound was Meeee. I took it back. I like Apple products as a whole. With Amazon’s Prime day just happening I thought that I’d get and Echo and start building a smart house. I reconsidered after thinking about all of the privacy and security breaches. Now I’m reconsidering the HomePod as a hub to do my smart house. Especially with Apples announcement about networking and HomeKit expansion. Do you have any thoughts on that? Thanks
Thanks for watching! And I definitely have a lot of thoughts about that ;-). Apple is setting themselves up into a fantastic position with the Homepod and iOS 13. The fact that they’re finally tying HomeKit and Shortscuts together in a meaningful way is going to open up a ton of customization options. And I’m excited to see how the Homepod ties into all of this with the changes coming for that too. I’ve been testing out the iOS 13 beta, but none of the updated Homepod functionality has been available yet. As of right now, I’m excited at the possibilities ... but I’ll have to wait for the final (or near final) versions before making any real judgement. I’m just as excited for things like the Homekit Secure Video and router features. If you still haven’t jumped into Alexa, or anything really, I’d hold off for a little bit longer. We’ll know a lot more in the early fall.
Got one recently on Christmas. Im enjoying it a lot and compared to other smart speakers, I don't really miss something in the day to day use. Im just happy to look at it and listen at it. There is just one thing im missing and where my day to day use reminds me every time: It's a cheaper, smaller version for the Bathroom. Man im so tired to pair my phone every morning to the Bluetooth box and than couldn't even skip a song, because Siri can't hear me under the shower
For me an iPhone user it’s useful because I can play my iTunes playlists. Most smart and Wi-Fi speakers like SONOS force you to pay a stream music service. They don’t allow you to play your purchased music. Cons is its high price. Multi-room Wi-Fi speakers Alternatives? Creative Labs Omni and JLab Audio House Party Series to name a few. In which you can play your playlists stored on your phone or portable music player and even Spotify. They’re platform-free, doesn’t matter if you have HomeKit Siri, Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant devices
Good suggestions. There are good alternatives out there (hoping to get my hands on some of them for testing). But from all of the ones I’ve tested so far, the HomePod has the best audio quality for the price.
Why doesn’t Apple stress how brilliant it works with Apple Music? I can completely use music from my phone. It’s like a remote control for music. If I’d known that I would have bought it a long time ago. I paid $299 and am satisfied. $350 is too much. I enjoyed your review
Using the homepod and its and excellent piece of equipment, thinking of getting a second. Great video btw, I’m still unsure of the sound demo what so many people do, almost cringe. Suppose you have to give the audience the chance to hear for themselves though. Looking forward to seeing more of your work
Thanks! Yeah, I’m really not a fan of audio demos in videos and normally don’t do them. I’ve had some people request them on previous videos, so thought I’d give it a shot. They don’t give you a sense for how it sounds in person for obvious reasons, but there are some minor differences you can pick up on ... what those differences mean in person is another story.
Thank you, this was a great overview and comparison. I too bought the Apple Homepod this last holiday season when Best Buy had their sharp discount. I still don't always get it to connect the way I want to my iTunes, but this is a learning curve for me.
Very nice review. Main point is that it's too expensive for most people at $350. $250 is a more realistic price. But also the integration is a problem. If you are not tied into Apple ecosystem there's no reason to buy one. I have an Apple TV but to be honest my Amazon Firestick has a better UI. I absolutely hate the Apple remote. With Amazon Echo dot I can run an AUX out cable to my bose sound wave speakers and play anything on my iPhone plus movies plus network TV. Can I do that with HomePod?
You can play pretty much anything via Airplay to the Homepods from Apple TVs, Macs, iPads, iPhones. But yep, it’s only useful to people fully in the Apple ecosystem. And you won’t hear any arguments from me on the Apple TV remote. It’s really, really bad.
I agree with you. At $250 it's a buy. At $350 it's too expensive. Apple needs to wake and realize they need to be more competitively priced with all their products nowadays. But I doubt they will.
I was interested in the Homepod just as a speaker as I had heard such good reviews about the sound quality. After further research I discovered it wouldn't easily work with my android phone or other audio devices (no aux input) and I don't use Apple music. In the end I bought the LG PK7 speaker with Meridian audio tuning. It cost about £100 and sounds awesome to my ears plus has all the connectivity inputs I need. The Homepod could be the best sounding speaker in the world, but if I can't connect to it, it's useless to me.
Yeah, Apple devices only. I haven’t heard the LG in person, but the specs look really good on it. My one frustration with those types of speakers though is that they don’t support Apple’s Airplay or Google’s Chromecast. Both of which allow for easy multi-room audio if you have multiple speakers around the house.
@@UndecidedMF yes that's true but that wasn't really important for me. I have an old school hifi set up in my lounge and the pk7 speaker is portable enough to use everywhere else. I can connect it to any TV just using a simple aux cable. Interestingly the speaker's clear voice preset is brilliant for movies where the dialogue is drowned out by the soundtrack and sound effects, because it pushes the dialogue to the forefront of the sound stage.
Great review Matt. I have been debating for weeks in getting one b/c the $250 is enticing. Also, as a casual listener I regard more performance(audio quality) as a top priority. I’m in the Apple ecosystem(various Apple devices) however I’m not subscribed to Apple Music(I use Spotify). Do you think having the HomePod and using airplay2 worth the purchase at $250? Moreover, with the recent news of Apple being a bit more open(more accessible to other parties). For example, adding Apple Music to echo devices and allowing airplay2/iTunes to Sony,Samsung,etc. Do you think Apple will allow native support on the HomePod from other services like Spotify in future updates? Also what do you predict Apple will do with the HomePod lineup and future updates? Thanks again for detailed review
Thanks! I think it’s worth $250 for AirPlay 2 ... mainly because you can talk to the speaker to get it to stream things directly from your iPhone (for many apps that support Siri Shortcuts). If you’re all in on the Apple ecosystem without Apple Music, you can still get a lot out of this speaker. For the future I seriously doubt that Apple itself will put native support for other music streaming services directly on the HomePod anytime soon (but it will get there in other ways). I think we’ll eventually get it through deeper and better Siri Shortcut integrations, but it will require the app installed on an iPhone or iPad in the house. What I think is most likely to happen would be a rev on the hardware, and maybe another model targeted at a different price point (like a HomePod Dot). And if things really start to gel, I could see them go down the path of something similar to the Apple Watch. In time the Apple Watch has handled more and more of the processing and features directly on the Watch. I think the HomePod could go that direction too. Perhaps Apps could be built like Apple Watch apps, where the developer can easily add HomePod functionality to their existing app. If you install that app on your phone, it automatically gets added as an app on the HomePod. Something like that would give the HomePod more on-device control for radically different apps and streaming services. And finally, multi-user/multi-device support. Right now the Homepod is tightly tied to one person/one device. Since this is something that sits in a house, it clearly can have multiple users. I think that’s something that Apple will have to tackle ... hopefully sooner than later.
Bargains do crop up from time to time at Beat Buy still. Also, if you don’t mind refurbished, you can pick them up for a nice discount from Apple itself. Macsales also tends to have them for $250: eshop.macsales.com/item/Apple/MQHW2LLA/.
Another excellent review my friend!! I am in the market for a nice speaker for my home office. With the recent price drop, albeit not the great Christmas deal you got, the HomePod (HP) is looking more attractive. That being said, curious if HP could replace bulky external speakers plugged into my MacBook (MBP) Pro 2018 headphone jack? Can the HP also serve as a surround sound speaker w/my ATV 4K which is also in my office connected to a nice 65” Samsung OLED? Would be nice to position the HP in my home office and stream music from the MBP while studying and then from ATV 4K while watching a movie. Possible? Is this how you are using it in your home office Matt? Finally, are you using any type of stand? Heard HP leaves rings on wooden furniture.
Thanks for watching! Glad you liked it. I was happy to see the price drop because it puts it into the reasonable range for what you’re getting. You can absolutely stream any audio you want to it through Airplay 2 from a Mac or an Apple TV. I do that frequently in my home office where my speakers are. I’ve watched plenty of videos on my Mac with audio coming through them. While I’ve tested the audio from an Apple TV, I haven’t done that extensively. It worked great while I tried it. One note on that, it won’t do surround sound. At the moment the Homepods can only be used in something like a stereo pair and Apple doesn’t emulate true surround sound if you have more ... or if you want to use the Homepods for surrounds only. As for the ring issue, I have mine on a couple of small black drink coasters. You can barely see them under my speakers.
It stays connected until I take over airplay with my phone. The way to do it probably is to airplay to apple tv once apple tv is air playing to HomePods. Needs to be more automatic so no matter what if you play something on Apple TV it takes over HomePods. But generally great if you don't have a cable box. Wondering if Sonos new amp can be used to take all tv sources audio and pop it to HomePods... Would be nice to get xbox on the pods
I also now have bought a second one for the $250 this holiday and have them paired. Great sound. I send my apple TV sound there as well. I get most use from having apple music and can ask Siri to play anything I want. Love the HomePod.
Matt, a great video and you make some great points. You hit the unfairly high expectations of any Apple release on the head IMO. You also made great points in the confusion about how the MSRP is too high for casual listeners who will go with an Echo if they're not deeply in the Apple ecosystem, or a 3rd party Airplay/AP2 speaker if they are. On the other end, as you said, audiophiles wouldn't dare want to listen to music over a wireless speaker, even though the HomePod does sound amazing for what it is. Apple is definitely playing on the audio side of the HomePod. However, when the Apple Watch was first released, Apple didn't really seem to know what it was going to be. They focused primarily on the interchangeable bands in their first TV commercial, pushing it as a fashion accessory with smart-watch features, and didn't start really moving units until they found their groove marketing it as a fitness wearable. I could gab at length about the Apple Watch, but my point is that it's it's a good example for Apple missing a step out of the gate on a new device but finding their footing for v2.0. I'm definitely in the Apple ecosystem (Macbook, ATVs, Apple Watches, iPhones, iPad, Homekit, etc.), and when the HomePod came out, I couldn't see buying it for two reasons: 1) I'm not an Apple Music subscriber and that seems to be the HomePod's bread & butter, and 2) I nearly always have either my Apple Watch and/or my iPhone on my person so summoning Siri for a request isn't hard. Between the Hey Siri compatible devices, Apple needs to sort out which one answers. I hate when I go to initiate Siri and 3 devices spring up interrupting each other. #FirstWorldProblems I also really don't like that if I have a HomePod, there doesn't seem to be any way to stop guests or anyone other than myself from reading back text messages, email messages, etc. Otherwise, HomePods would be awesome just for Homekit voice-control alone. I would love to see new versions of the HomePod compete with some of the same device types like Amazon's Echo devices. A HomePod Mini, or a HomePod Show/Spot? Fix the guest access to personal info and YES PLEASE!
Thanks! Totally agree on your point about the launch of the Apple Watch. Apple really didn't seem to know who that product was meant for ... they lost the thread of a product story there and it took some time for them to figure it out. It's not the exact same thing with the HomePod, but it's similar. I'm hoping they find and craft a better product story with v.2 and other sizes/options for it. I'd be all over smaller Echo Dot like devices. I also think that every voice assistant has a problem with multi user support, and whole home support. Google and Amazon can be programed to recognize certain voices, but what that means is still pretty limited. And none of them do a good job in a whole home situation. Setting a timer should be accessible anywhere on any of the devices, not just the one that originally responded to the request.
What do you think now Dec 2019 Best Buy has them for $200. Thinking about picking up two do these to replace my 10 year old Bose 321. What do you think? Is this an upgrade?
One rule that I've learned about Product Reviews is that you can't quote Special Sale prices as they change over time and tend to be different around the world if they have sales. (eg. Best Buy has a sale, but a UK retailer can not match a similar price). So you have to compare by the RRP. Sale price of the Apple Home Pod is still overpriced. Yes Best Buy's $250 price for the Apple Home Pod was good (at the time). But this video is already out-dated as Best Buy finished the sale and returned to regular pricing. It's back at $350. Cardinal rule of Tech reviews. Otherwise a good look through and comparison of the HomePod vs the Competition.
I pulled the trigger at $250 just a few weeks back and don't regret it. I thought my Harmon Kardon Onyx Studio sounded good, but then I turned the homepod on.. It absolutely overshadows the harmon kardon. Apple really needs to permanently lower the price to $250, because at that price it's truly a great deal.
Agreed!
Same here I had a HK Onyx Studio 2 (in fact I still do in my bedroom) and have the HomePod in the living room. EVERYBODY who comes over loves it, myself included. The sound quality is solid and watching my friends beef each other to get Siri’s attention will never get old
I have the HK Onyx studio and the HomePod as well. But, I find the HK much louder and fuller than the HomePod. But the HomePod sounds better overall. Both are great, but the HomePod blows it away on sound quality. The HK is just more “loud” which is sometimes great. But if I’m chilling in my bedroom I use my HomePod and love there detailed audio quality. I recommend it to everyone. (It’s also shamed me into paying for Apple Music. )
Avinash Beghi the problem with the HK is that it’s crossover point completely kills sub bass almost entirely, this is where the HomePod shines. HK also has boosted mids with completely absent lows so while it gets louder, a song with bass tones under 80-100hz will sound flat and leaves you feeling dissatisfied. I’ve also found that HK has a real bad thing for “sweet spots” as to where you place them. Bass can sound heavy sitting on the left side of the couch but flat when you sit on the right side of the couch. Homepods mics (almost) completely rid this problem. To me, I want to hear the full spectrum of audio range when I listen to music and HomePod does just that for me. I’d say a $299 price tag would be perfect for the HomePod
Matt, you're killing it! If you keep pumping out videos at this quality, you're going to be HUGE. I am rooting for ya
Thanks! Appreciate it. Tell your friends ;-)
Found a barely used Homepod on CL for $200. Worth every penny. Sound is excellent. No need to install in wall speakers throughout the house and connect to an amp like in the past. Buy a few of these and place around the house and patio and your good to go. Simply excellent.
Have two of them, bought early so lost out on the $100 drop on each, but still very happy with my purchases. Stereo sound is fantastic and the sound is rich in bass and clarity at any volume. Now at $250 (sale) they are now at a sweet spot for price vs. a quality Apple product. I bought for the sound, not Siri.
aotero u Yes, I just wanted something that sounded really good and I bought one after watching many positive RUclips videos on reviews of these Apple HomePods for ‘their sound quality’, and not how smart (or not) Siri is when incorporated within these speaker’s. I actually bought one and it sounded so good, I bought another even before they had the long awaited update for pairing them for stereo. I knew they were going to sound amazing once that took place, and I was right. Siri is smart enough to play the music I ask for without moving an inch, and with more updates, it will only get better. I think if they sell these at $250 going forward, they could really make a difference when people decide which brand to buy. Yes, I imagine audiophiles maybe picking up a set for a bedroom or kitchen and having their ultimate sound system in the living room or dedicated sound room.
Educated Melanin good point, yeh I figured those $250 HomePod prices were because of the past November Black Friday and Christmas holiday periods, but really if Apple wanted to sell millions of these, they would drop the price. Yet, they are supposedly making a cheaper smaller HomePod speaker that should be coming out this year which will probably cost $200-$250 to bring more into homes that way.
Educated Melanin Why? Expense or sound quality?
HomePod is actually my all time favourite Apple product. I love the simplicity in design and they sound great.
I won’t disagree, it’s an amazing product and I absolutely love using mine... but the Apple Watch and/or AirPods are also up in the running when it comes to favorite product for me.
Have to admit. One HomePod is good but a stereo pair is even better. The 360 sound means you can put just one in the middle of a room and have adequate sound throughout. No other speaker does that and there is nothing as simple as Airplay 2.
I’m most likely going to be picking up a second one sometime soon. It’s really impressive.
Thank you for the updated review. I bought 4 Homepods over the holidays at the discounted price of $250. They have exceeded my expectations in term of sound quality especially when pairing them. Will start looking into Homepod enabled products for my home.
I also bought my HomePod for $250 with the sale, and was using it for the audio comparison. It is very clearly which sounded better, especially for 360 degree sound. I love using my HomePod and it has even impressed friends that didn’t think it was worth it. Using it with Apple Music is easy, and as I grow my smart home, it’s nice to have a good sounding speaker that can also control those devices as well.
Nicholas Wolle so it’s worth it ? Right now they have it for 280 at Best Buy
Leo Contreras yes it’s totally worth it, just don’t pay over $300 for it.
I’m an audio file and own very high end speakers and listen to “my bathroom” speaker doesn’t make me feel like I’m missing any sound quality. It’s a bookshelf speaker that truly has amazon sound and the mic’s are excellent as it hear you very, very well.
Me too. I have a Sonos Play One in the bathroom for news and music while doing the morning ritual. It's fine for this, but I can't imagine using it for anything else. I'm a dyed in the wool Audiophile and have a lot of expensive gear. Matt nailed my demographic perfectly.
I received a couple of HomePods for Christmas to replace the 3 google minis that we had throughout the house. They (minis) didn't do that good of a job controlling my smart home equipment which was infuriating. Almost all of our lighting is Philips Hue. We also have an Ecobee 4, 2 august smart locks, and several smart plugs. The HomePods do such an awesome job of controlling everything in the house. I can almost whisper, and they almost always hear my requests.
I have experienced an issue with one of them (not both, ironically) failing to make the connection to my Philips Hue lights. After resetting it, it works fine.
I'm hoping they're on sale again soon for $249, because I want a 3rd so that I can use a stereo pair in the living room (our current second one is in our office).
The sound is pretty good too. I listen to several genres of music, with 90s R&B being my favorite. I also enjoy rap and hip hop, pop, music from both the baroque and romantic periods. Regardless of what I play, these things sound great. I definitely think they're worth the $250. I'd be willing to buy ONE at $350 if they had never been on sale. But since they have, I'll be waiting for the sale again before I pull the trigger on that 3rd one!
OH! Having Google anything in my house with a microphone or camera is terrifying. I don't trust 'em at all. Not saying Apple is completely innocent or perfect, but I trust Apple with my conversations and personal information far more than I trust google to listen in on my conversations! That's another reason we got rid of the Google Home minis
Really great rundown. Thanks for sharing! Definitely go with the companies you trust when it comes to these always listening devices. In two weeks I have a video comparing Google, Siri, and Amazon smart speakers and shortly after that I have one on Privacy Protection ... hitting your second posts reasoning square on the head.
First of all, HomeKit support is really lacking, and there is only around 600 HomeKit devices, and around 150 of those devices are support for AirPlay on other smart speakers or other sound related devices. So really you have around 450 supported HomeKit devices. Amazon supports over 60,000 home devices. Google supports 50,000 home devices. Siri is also lacking big time, and it's voice support for other things like other apps is just crap, especially compared to the other voice platforms.
I just have a single HomePod but I love it. The audio quality is unmatched for it’s size. I couldn’t believe the lows that come out it. Around 50% volume is perfect. I keep it in my bedroom and love the way it sounds in that room. Though it doesn’t sound as good in my living room because of the much larger area and really tall ceilings. It’s still just as clear, just not a good bass. I plan on getting another to use in stereo mode in my room.
In my home office (my “set”) I find the same thing. Around 40-50% volume sounds fantastic.
I think a big point you are missing is the privacy. Privacy is also what slows down Apple since it does not download and analyse all conversations in the room like amazone and google do. So it is all about privacy and am willing to pay more aslong as my privacy is guaranteed. People selling their privacy for just getting cheaper speaker is in my opinion making yourself an easy target for google and amazone to even more sell you happy short lived feelings. Where the real problem is that tech will never make you happy as a person, you have to make yourself happy and one pre-requisite is freedom to think, speak and do. That is exactly what google, amazone, facebook take away with there market model --> free services but more advertisement to get you to buy stuff you and the world don't need. :-)
Exactly! Privacy is a huge issue that so many tech reviewers seem to overlook. Apple is the only mainstream tech company I am aware of that doesn't sell private information.
I actually haven’t missed that point, but decided not to focus on that angle for this specific video. The reason ... I have a video coming out in two weeks on privacy (already shot and am in the process of editing it now). Apple is the only giant tech company taking this stand and making it a major marketing point of their products. I wish more companies would take that stance, as well as more people thinking about what they’re trading for these services. Stay tuned!
Um, so Amazon, Google and Sonos Speakers have 'always' had the option to turn of the Mics... Apple had to receive an update that added the "Mic off" feature in 1Q 2018.
www.theverge.com/2018/1/22/16918344/homepod-icons-ios-beta
So, Apple doesn't sell your data.. they simply have a lengthy App-approval process that explicitly allows the covert collection and selling of your data via the App Store and its apps. Don't forget your iPhone has a very specific use for the IDFA (Advertising Identifier) - can you guess what that's for? I guess going to Settings->Privacy->Advertising and turning off "Limit Ad Tracking" is because they are not collecting data on you??? Real 1984 'double-think' going on here...
www.forbes.com/sites/thomasbrewster/2018/09/07/a-load-of-apple-iphone-apps-are-covertly-selling-your-location/#79ba2e065832
guardianapp.com/ios-app-location-report-sep2018.html
If you are thinking you are somehow more private or safer with Apple.. well, to each their own.
There’s a huge difference between an app collecting data on you and Apple, Google, Facebook, or Amazon doing it themselves. The “limit ad tracking” isn’t any kind of gotcha here. Apple uses tracking to show you relevant ads in the App Store, Apple News, and stocks apps. Flip that toggle and that tracking stops. Again, it’s not that this type of tracking is bad (I’m making the trade myself as a Google user), but it’s how Apple, Amazon, Facebook, and Google use that data, protect that data, and how much of it can be tracked back directly to you. How much control do you have over your own data. It’s not an anti-Google or anti-Amazon statement ... just a fact. And something we all need to think about because we keep getting burned by companies playing too fast and loose with our data. Amazon/Ring employees spying on customer videos for instance. Not good.
@@UndecidedMF Thanks for the reply. I don't want to start a flame war on such a subject, so please do take it as a wholesome disagreement :-)
I believe that claiming Apple as some kind of privacy advocate is simply the echo-chamber of Apple's marketing department. While there are things to "like" about Apple's security and public stance on the issue... their actions and what actually bears out to be fact and not marketing/lies is what really matters. Nobody can really claim to know what Apple has because their OS is fully closed source, not the case with much of the others. Apple had the most insecure OS in OSX and iOS in 2015, but they said they had the best... in the face of overwhelming evidence. Is it the same story now, for privacy? freedomhacker.net/apple-os-x-rated-most-vulnerable-software-2015-4861/
I'm not claiming others are better, only that Apple lay in the same echelon of poor-privacy. The Safari Browser and other Apple-made and controlled apps have been the Achilles heal of Apple's privacy (by design?)... along with the blind-eye approach on their App store for the better part of a decade... eh, as long as the apps sell!
WE KNOW Apple isn't secure and that all the major players are working for the NSA/CIA/FBI per the Snowden papers.. so we need to stop pretending this isn't the case... the SEP secure keys are hacked and there are at least two lighting cable decryption devices/services for sale to the "public".
www.wired.com/story/apple-differential-privacy-shortcomings/
" a new study, which delves deeply into how Apple actually implements the technique, suggests the company has ratcheted that dial further toward aggressive data-mining than its public promises imply."
"Apple oversells its differential privacy protections. "Apple’s privacy loss parameters exceed the levels typically considered acceptable by the differential privacy research community,"....
....."By taking apart Apple's software to determine the epsilon the company chose, the researchers found that MacOS uploads significantly more specific data than the typical differential privacy researcher might consider private. iOS 10 uploads even more. And perhaps most troubling, according to the study's authors, is that Apple keeps both its code and epsilon values secret, allowing the company to potentially change those critical variables and erode their privacy protections with little oversight."
Lower Epsilon number is better.
"Google's Epsilon is 4"
"MacOS's implementation of differential privacy uses an epsilon of 6, while iOS 10 has an epsilon of 14"
"researchers found that the beta version of iOS11 has an epsilon of 43"
"[For Apple], After two days of uploads, the analysts would know about that medical condition with virtually 100 percent certainty. "Even after just one day, you’ve already blown this really strong security," McSherry says."
Homepod 1 acquired April 2019. Sound: WOW. Homepoad 2 acquired May 2019. Incredible speakers, super easy setup & configuration. Hat-trick: easy RECONFIGURATION- easily move to/from rooms, pair/unpair stereo sets, etc. Technical design is a game-changer, these are 'anywhere everywhere' speakers that 'just so happen to be smart-speakers.' If these were 'only' wireless speakers they'd still be highly rated. RECOMMENDATION: if you have an iphone take one home for a test-drive for at least a couple days. Good listening to you :)
I have three of these and I love them. The sound is amazing!! I can tell one of them to play my favorite album everywhere at whatever volume level I want and they fill my entire house with sound. Even at 100 percent volume there is no distortion.
I have a HomePod and love it so much. The sound is just incredible!
Same! And the small size means I can bring it places
I like the device but without the ability to stream from other music services its a non-starter for me. I switch between the streaming services to regularly to be locked into one service
Yeah, that’s a big downside right now, but with Siri Shortcuts hopefully those services will start supporting it with their phone apps. If they do, then it might be an option again.
@@David-xt5ob What I don't understand is, are you married to Spotify? You can cancel and change these services at any time. Apple Music is cheaper and has more songs. So why is that a "no-starter"?
I use all the services. I find Apple Music to have a bad recommendation engine with a heavy leaning towards hip-hop and r&b style music. While I enjoy that music I also enjoy a lot of other music which its poor at finding. In addition iTunes is an incredible bloated piece of software and the iPhone app is not great. So I wouldn't buy a $500 AUD speaker to be locked into what I consider to be one of the weaker streaming options
I live in Chile, we can not buy the HomePod here, but I went to USA in 2018 and bought one! It is amazing! Now is part of our life, and also is helpful to improve our languages skills, because we are using Siri in English even when is most difficult to us, but anyway still works and Siri understand us, even when our pronunciation is not the best. I think this is another point of view of this lovely product.
That’s awesome! And I’m impressed that you’re using it in English. I definitely would struggle horribly if I tried to use Siri in another language. Heck, I sometimes struggle with English! ;-)
Damn, Matt, how do we get you from 11K to 111K and 1,111K subscribers? You 100% deserve to be at those levels. What can we do to help?
Ha! I’m still dumbfounded that I’m at 11K right now and not at 1K. I really appreciate all of you guys ... just keep watching, commenting, and liking the videos! And tell your friends ;-).
Totally agree with the above. I'm a huge fan of your relaxing, informative approach to these topics. Not to mention, I feel like I can stay glued because I feel like you're talking directly to me in a lecture I actually chose and want to go to. So glad I stumbled across your channel. Keep it up!
That’s awesome. Thanks so much for watching!
I purchased a HomePod and the "wow" made me buy a second one. Even at regular price, I say go!
The sound is awesome, Siri is getting much better and the HomeKit integration is practical and fun.
I asked Siri if she has a sister but I think she’s jealous. Fix this apple please.
I have 2 HomePods in stereo mode. They sound easily better than most upper-middleclass hi-fi systems, but are portable and without any cable hassle. I love them. I listen only classical music and particularly baroque harpsichord music - every time I turn it on it's like a revelation. The best 700€ I've ever spent.
Nice! I haven’t tried out classical yet (gonna give that a shot now).
@@UndecidedMF BTW: Funniest single HomePod review on the internet: ruclips.net/video/_Lz7dxfNXL8/видео.html
Funniest stereo HomePod review: ruclips.net/video/Uftil4Dywpw/видео.html
Did you own proper amp and speakers that cost around that price point before?
people always complain about the price, but considering it costs 216 to make, i think it needs to be minimum 300 for apple to cover marketing, r and d, updates, store space, and service (warranty and repairs).
The R&D alone was over 5 years.
I just purchased a HomePod, they were on sale for $199 at Best Buy, after updating it to iOS 13.3, I have to say that this was one solid investment. I couldn’t be more pleased with the sound reproduction and the smart features that have been implemented since its inaugural release. I will be purchasing a second HomePod for stereo playback soon.
Thanks you for providing exactly what I was looking for. I’m 32 years old and you’re the first person on RUclips I’ve ever subscribed to! Your presentation was smooth, well thought out easy to follow and even funny at times! Keep up the great work! 👌🏻
Additionally please give us a call at Apple technical support and maybe we can use our tools to diagnose the inconsistency on your controls between your phone!
Thank you again!
New Subscriber!
Appreciate it!
LOVE my HomePOd. I had it less than a week and bought another one. Plan on getting [2] more. Great review. No - it’s not for everyone, but for those of us who are bass sensitive and above average music quality listeners (but not true audiophiles), this speaker rocks.
Nice! It didn’t take me long to add a second one either. I use them almost every single day and absolutely love ‘em. Thanks for watching!
This was the best, most critical yet fair assessment of the HomePod. It’s criminal you don’t have more subscribers and Ryan’s Toy Review makes $22 million. Gained one more sub from me 👍🏼
i got stereo pair for my apple tv and one homepod in my office. I'm very pleased with my homepods despite the price. I also finished equiping my house with philips hue and other smart home devices. It all comes together with having Homepods and Sonos One's spread around the house to control stuff. I feel i belong to the target audience, but that target feels way too specific.
Watching this video months after the Homepod got discontinued, and I could admit that this is a honest video.
Great sound, and I just bought another one. A few months ago a friend took down his expensive speakers and replaced them with two home pods. He kept bugging me to get a second one, and said I would not regret it.
Love them. Great sound, low footprint.
The stereo pair really does sound phenomenal, doesn’t it? I was listening to mine most of the day today as I worked. Still blown away by them.
I think 250 is the true price they should be. At CES this year many more support HomeKit
Devices were released and Siri is slowly getting better. I am going to buy a second for stereo sound to use with my Apple TV and listening to music.
Trey Duval how is this working for you? I am thinking about doing the same for our Apple TV
I understand this video was shot in January of 2019 but I just wanted to let everyone know that I just bought 2 HomePods from OWC on December 27th 2019 at $186 a piece. So you can find some deals out there. Mine won't be here till Monday the 30th so I can't tell you how great they sound...And Matt Ferrell, Thanks for the great review !!
I’ve been a Home Automation hobbyist since the 80s. I have setup both HomeKit and Alexa as front ends for my system. The HomePod + HomeKit system is clearly superior the Amazon system. Sometime after I put a HomePod in my bedroom, the battery in the wall mounted Insteon died and I just recently noticed. HomeKit + HomePod + Shortcuts is a real power house, especially since the 12.1.3 update.
Shortcuts really is a game changer.
I passed the homepod by until this Christmas. Now that I can make a still pair and they were on sale for $250 I bought 2. I am VERY happy with the sound quality and use the hompods for my audio out on apple TV. I also have all hue lighting in my house and Siri is faster than Alexa and Google home hands down for light control.
Yeah, it’s definitely faster, which isn’t something that gets talked about very often.
Of all the smart speakers on the market, the Echo Dot and Show are by far the best. Both "know" they are not good speakers and provide a 3.5mm jack that opens up a whole new world of possibilities. I have connected a dot to an older NAD 3130 integrated amp, and some brand new ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 speakers purchased on sale for $149.00/pair. The same combination is also connected to my computer via USB to a Schiit Audio Modi 3 DAC purchased for $99.00. Much better sound, multiple inputs and a smart component via Alexa for less money than attempting stereo by purchasing Home Pods. Yes, I cheated and used an older integrated amp, but it's possible to purchase a new NAD c 316bee for less than $400 and still say close to if not under the price of dual Home Pods.
That’s what I was getting at in my review ... that a custom built setup can absolutely beat the HomePod, but for an all in one device that does it all ... it’s pretty damn impressive. I also have an Echo Dot plugged into a nice set of Audio Engine speakers/sub in my office (sounds damn good), but it’s a setup that requires a lot of wires, plugs, etc. I’m fine with that, but don’t think that’s average consumer behavior.
Spot on video....I bought a HomePod as an experiment and put it in the kitchen. 6 months later I bought 3 more for master bathroom, office, daughters bedroom. LOVE them. My iMac pushes iTunes/Apple Music out to the house. Siri is ok. It works to verbally add appts, reminders, check weather, a few Siri shortcuts...all I need. I won't use the Alexa ecosystem due to privacy. There are minor hiccups in Airplay connectivity. If my Mac has been asleep for the evening and I decide to play music in the AM, sometimes there is an error dialogue stating that it couldn't connect to 1 or 2 of the HomePods. And my home network is a blue flame blowtorch of Ubiquiti Mesh saturation. A simple restart of iTunes corrects the connectivity issue most of the time..
I just added a second Homepod for stereo and have noticed one small connection issue myself with it losing stereo playback. It’s only happened once, so I’m not sure how to replicate it. In the middle of a song it just stopped coming out of one speaker. Stopping playback and disconnecting/reconnecting the Airplay stream made everything work again. Ever experienced anything like that? A stream just dropping out during playback?
@@UndecidedMF I have noticed dropouts periodically. Maybe one every other day for 2-3 seconds through once device. It self repairs. I don't have a stereo pair in any rooms. The most annoying thing for me is the occasions when the music through 2 devices gets out of sync by a millisecond. Have you had that? It will be streaming in 2 separate rooms and If you stand in the hallway you can tell they are out of sync, subtly. It usually occurs after pausing the music or advancing a song or something where you interfered with the stream in some fashion.
Yes, I have experienced that too across all of my Airplay speakers (Sonos, Denon Receiver, HomePod, Apple TVs), not just the Homepod specifically. It typically happens if I’m scrubbing through audio or skipping songs rapidly. I’m planning on filing a Radar with Apple on the issue.
@@UndecidedMF One other oddity I experience with airplay devices, Sometimes Im streaming to 3 of them, and if I decide to bring the 4th, maybe in the upstairs bathroom, my volumes all lower. Even though the 4th device volume is set fairly normal. Then if I uncheck them all, then add them back in it corrects. Just weird volume stuff.
That’s a new one. I haven’t experienced that one myself (yet).
We purchased our Homepod soon after its release. All of your points are in accord with our experiences over the past months. Yes...the price needs to come down a bit..and being a subscriber to Apple Music is a critical factor. We look forward to continuing improvements in Siri. Thank you for this objective and well produced review.
Thanks! Glad you liked it.
i picked up two of craigslist for $400. That was a price range I was comfortable with and the speakers sound great.
Thanks, man. You just post it right on time. I stuck deciding what to buy 1. Sonos One and Beam(tv) or 2. Homepod and beam(tv). Now I'm definitely going with 2nd option as it can be paired together anyway and give me control of my Homekit devices.
Going that route opens up a lot of possibilities. Glad you found it useful! Keep an eye out for the video I have coming out today where I compare Siri, Alexa, and Google.
I asked for and got one for Christmas (purchased for $250 from BB). I Iiked to so much I bought another right away (again for $250 from BB). The original one is in the Bedroom (my original intention was to just get the one for the bedroom). The other is in my living room. Even though I have a full home theatre system (Paradigm with HSU sub FWIW) I like having the HP by my chair for casual listening/late night etc. BTW I tried them out as a stereo pair after I got them and thought they sounded great and would work well as a "main" system for a lot of folks. The sound they put is amazing, especially the bass from such a small footprint. Friends are amazed when they come over. The one in the living room is sitting on top of my HSU subwoofer and they think it is on when I play the HP! Of course, it doesn't have the extra deep response of a real sub, but through psychoacoustics and sound analysis, it certainly gives a close effect.
That’s a really good set of gear for your home theater setup. And I completely agree on your point that while it’s not as deep a response as a real sub, Apple is doing some exceptional sound shaping to give the illusion of a deep low end. It’s pretty remarkable. I still think the $250 price point is the sweet spot for the speaker. Glad to see that Apple officially dropped the price by $50 now (to $300), so it’s not too far off now.
Leo Laporte on Mac break weekly desecrated the HomePod on his show comparing it to sonos 4 ,the google home max and other rival company smart speakers. he went out of his way to find fault with Apple’s brilliant sounding speaker and claimed that there were speakers that sounded better. I bought a HomePod and absolutely love it.
I have family with one, she loves it, it sits up high away from the kids... The Siri function is what she says she likes the best, no remote required, and the sound is loud enough to fill her main room. Me, I'm not interested, but can definitely see where it is a good pick for some folks.
Definitely not for everyone, but it’s exceptional if it’s the type of device you’re looking for.
Having Sonos (play 1 and 5, no sub) and HomePod I 100 % agree with the video. Thanks! Most important thing for me is audio quality. The HomePod sounds notably better. For smart stuff I don’t care so much. However, I couldn’t figure out how to play radio stations on the bare HomePod without an iPhone streaming to it. Hope someone at Apple finds out how to implement that soon as well as supporting other music streaming services.
Thanks for watching! I think Siri Shortcuts is the beginning of getting things like radio stations, etc. working on it. I’m hoping/expecting to see a lot of Siri improvements over the next year or two.
Sure, a couple of radio streaming apps provide shortcuts that work well on HomePod. Issue is that those shortcuts actually run the app on your iPhone/iPad streaming to the HomePod. When you leave the house taking your iPhone the shortcut doesn't work anymore. At least that is my experience. My family complained. In contrast, the Sonos One or Play:1/Alexa combo streams directly to to the speaker.
Yeah, I hope Apple updates the HomePod to work better with multiple users and devices. Right now it will only stream from the device that was used to set it up. For me, I have an iPad that never leaves the house, so setting up the HomePod with that pretty much ensures that all the functionality is there even if I’m not home. Ideally, more would be processed directly on the HomePod, or you’d be able to have a family group of devices that could all work seamlessly with it. How cool would it be if the HomePod recognized each family member’s voice, and would stream directly from their device instead of yours?
Total success!!!! I have two of them, paired, and I love them!!!!
Me Too...
Same here. Simply the best speakers for the price.
Best Buy was selling them at 250 so I have 4 now. Paired in 2 sets.
Just bought a second one for myself (refurbished). Just waiting for delivery.
Also got one at $250
And was impressed enough to go out at that price and grabbed another one and have them paired. They sound great in a room about 15’x15’ room aprox
People who don't own the product have the most to say about it. I love it and will be adding a second soon.
J Johnson because we’re smart enough not to hang out in a burning building.
Toasty Volvo But have no experience with burning houses but speak about them as if they are experts.
I just got mine yesterday and I'm blown away! I love it plain and simple.
I just added a second one for a stereo pair (picked up a refurbished one for $230) ... even better.
Almost got cold feet buying mine last year in October from the Apple store as a birthday gift for myself. I had seen most of the reviews in comparison to Google and Amazon products and most seemed to favour either one of the latter mostly due to the price. It didn't help that Best Buy was right across the street with all the brand options available!!! But I have other Apple products and had enjoyed each and everyone of them, some which have been around since 2011 like my MacBook Pro without any major hitches. Eventually the Sales guy at Apple won me over cause he didn't try and crowd me with a sales pitch and gave me room to make my own mind up and when he found me a single homepod player as opposed to a pair playing (which is what I listened to at first and almost wasn't quite convinced), I was sold from the first few notes that came out of it. Thank you for your great review. Never tried the others (Google's or Amazon's) but what you said about the Homepod's sound..is what won me over and am glad I bought it.
It really is a case of hearing is believing, isn’t it? It’s still obviously a limited product since you have to be in the Apple ecosystem (Windows and Android users need not apply), but it’s a phenomenal speaker with smarts that are getting better as time goes on.
Could not agree more..Siri keeps cracking me up with what "she" know's or doesn't... like the other day using Siri I was able to find my phone within the apartment..when I thought to ask if it could find it....and it did...by it making my phone emit an audible repetitive beep...but it could not do the same with my 2011 MacBook...yet I can receive phone calls on my MacBook from my phone...but the fact that it could...where nowhere I have read says it can...is as you said smarts!! @@UndecidedMF
Pairing with Apple TV, that changes everything for me.
Good video, but it might need updating as the HomePod’s got even better since you filmed it.
Despite all the negative reviews I bought my first HomePod in Oct19, just as iOS 13.2.1 became available, and I was so impressed with it I immediately bought another (a third will be along soon).
Audio quality is brilliant (expected), but the other features like multi-user support, Tunein radio and handoff (brilliant) have totally transformed it from the product the early reviews hit on so badly.
Its new lower price is bang-on and if only Apple would add support for other music services then I think it will become the smart speaker of choice for most Apple users.
You’re absolutely right. It has a bunch of new features that are worthy of a revisit.
No complaints for mine - sound is amazing and does everything i need to happen, + Apple is adding new functionality
Thanks for the review! I've been really torn over which smart speaker to invest in and I think you helped me decide. I'm going with the Homepod. The price, well, sucks! But my main things are sound quality and Apple integration as I use an iPhone, iPad, and AppleTV. I also want to venture into the world of smart home stuff like controlling lights, temp, etc. What I decided to do is to get the Homepod and set it up in my bedroom for my Apple music use in there. I will make my bedroom a "smart" room (with compatible plugs, thermostat, bulbs, etc.). Once I set up my bedroom as a smart-room I can then tell if I want to extend that to my whole house by adding more Homepods or with a different system entirely while still keeping the Apple system for the bedroom. Thanks again for your great review. You hit all the issues I wanted to hear.
I love my HomePod. I’d buy another one if I was home a bit more. Great sound and I’m actually impressed with Siri she does exactly what I need her to do.
Are you kidding. A work of art. True greatness.
for the most part I've been using the Homepod for music and it was my main purpose of purchase and I love it. Also, I prefer airplay over Bluetooth that I used to use because the video or audio I play on my iPhone doesn't interrupt the music playing. it is especially important to me when there are others listening to music and I don't want to interrupt it to play a video or audio etc.
I also prefer Airplay over Bluetooth. It’s simpler to connect and disconnect, and now with Airplay 2 you can connect to multiple speakers at once.
The Gotdamn thing is awesome I get it now. It’s not a Bluetooth speaker and I realize that and I love this thing works great at home for its intended use. Also Best Buy has them forever for 249.99 so I got two which was lovely and worth it all day in my book
At $250 it’s a steal.
Yours is probably the best HomePod review out there. Your observations are spot on. I have one HomePod, but am intrigued by true stereo capability. Perhaps if/when they go on sale for $250, I might bite.
That’s what I’m waiting on right now ... looking for a good deal to pull the trigger on a second one.
@@UndecidedMF You both won't regret buying a second one. Two in stereo mode are three times(!) better than one alone.
I have to chime in on buying a second one, after owning my first one for six months. I definitely noticed the difference at first listen, and I was fully expecting ‘buyer’s remorse’ or just more of the same. But it definitely sounded fuller, richer and more expansive. If I were to describe before and after, I don’t know that I would describe it as “three times better”...but I definitely wouldn’t argue with it!!
I really like my homepod, I use it everyday.
HomePod is cool... looking for loose cash to buy a second one to experience stereo. It’s a beast for it size when it come to sound. Clean sound.
Same here ... loose cash and a good deal.
HomePod’s are Great. Run as background speakers for my Apple TV. Siri on Pods used to rum my Homekit. Change Stereo to match were I am in the room... I could go on
I have had a great experience with the Homepod. Bought 4 of them, and they are currently streaming Airplay throughout my house flawlessly. The only issue is my network, which causes some latency (drop out vs. lag - they are all always in sync!). I actually bought them as streaming Airplay speakers to create a sound environment throughout my house, and they exceeded my expectations. I consider Siri to be a bonus feature, and did not expect much out of it, so I was not disappointed. Have successfully hooked up a power switch and some Eve environmental monitors very easily using the Eve app, whose easy integration with Apple Home bordered on magical. Yes, you heard me, I said magical. And remember, the Homepod is just a piece of hardware - the software can easily be upgraded and Siri made much smarter and more capable. The future is bright for this excellent product, and only competition from two major players like Amazon and Google has kept the Homepod from achieving the level of success it deserves.
You hit the nail on the head with the software angle. The hardware is amazing and the software is continuing to get better. So much potential to an already great product.
My wife had no idea what it was tell I bought one, and now she loves it !
I am not a true audiophile but am very much bought into the apple Ecosphere. I was provided a demo at an Apple store itself where I think it may have been a Sonos v HomePod comparison. Despite the higher price I recognised the benefit of the integration for what just needed to be a great speaker system in the small study I have that is hooked up to my MacBook Pro, Sony Bravia TV and apple TV. I must agree the sound is excellent and the voice activation linked to my library(I use iTunes Match rather than Apple Music ) as a more cost effective way to access all my music effortlessly.
That’s a really good call out. ITunes Match and the Homepod are a great combo ... even without the Apple Music subscription.
I love I tunes match
I loved the sound of the homepod, but then I got the echo studio and... I sold the homepod not long after. So much better sound and functionality.
The first time I was introduce to the homepod was at my brothers home. He was operating his lights and television and I fell in love with the sound. Nothing sounds better. I almost bought one today but that $350 price scared me away. If it was $250 i would be unboxing it right now.
I really hope Apple drops the price sometime this year.
The technology they put in it justifies the price. For the same listening enjoyment, you would pay more for higher end brands.
I also bought into the HomePod from Best Buy @ the reduced price, that lasted for several weeks, during the Holiday Season. Apple may have been 'testing the waters' for a looming price drop. However, I'm beginning to think they may actually drop the price to $299, possibly during the March 2019 introduction of the iPad 10" & iPad Mini 5. Great video update!
Thanks! And yeah, I really hope they drop the price of the HomePod permanently to something like $299. It would be a huge step in the right direction.
I love my HomePod, but I think the $250 is just the right price point when you consider the features. Like the Apple Watch, the future software updates will greatly enhance the customer experience. I bought a HomePod in lieu of a sound bar. However, my Apple TV can’t set the HomePod as its default output, so I have to set the output each time I use it. That’s about my only complaint.
Yeah, even though you can pair it out an Apple TV, it’s not built for that ... yet. That might be able to be updated in a software update, but who knows if they’ll prioritize that.
They need to advertise it more! The sound quality is great, it smart enough to do a lot of task such as controlling my lights.
I’m normally a ‘first adopter’ when it comes to Apple products, but held off until Nov ‘18 before buying my HomePod. Wish I’d bought it earlier - sound alone justifies the cost, and Siri isn’t as bad as all that. I’d buy it again..
Have 2, love em!
You seem extremely knowledgeable and all but the calming music and gentle voice made me actually fall asleep. I’ll subscribe anyway though
Undecided ... the cure for insomnia.
Thanks for subscribing!
I scored two this holiday season. And really like the stereo sounds. Thanks for the review and information.
How much did they run you? Get any deals?
Please do a video on playing the homepod without wifi. Thank You!
I had one for about six months and got rid of it. It sounded great, but if I am going to automate my home, i am not spending $350 for multiple Home Pods when I can just buy a $30 Echo Dot and place in each room. I am not looking for high quality sound. But the $250 price is great. Apple needs to come out with smaller satellite pods that work in conjunction with the larger pod. Then I'm in!
Couldn’t agree more. I love mine (got a second one for stereo) for listening to music and home automation in the room they’re in, but there’s no way I’m going to buy one or two for each room in the house. There really should be a HomePod Mini.
total success everyone i know has bought one and loves it.
I bought 3 HomePods to replace a basic amazon echo setup (1 echo plus and 2 echo dots) and was pretty happy with the sound quality and the design of the HomePod however, I can’t stand Siri! Alexa was so much faster with responses and could respond to way more requests. Half the time I would tell Siri to turn lights on and she would pause for awhile and say “just a second” (lol) Alexa never had this issue. Also the compatibility just isn’t there for the HomePod and for the price ($350 each) it just was not worth the money just for playing music, maybe for some people it is but for me it just wasn’t. The specific compatibility I’m referring to is really with our 3 nest cameras, thermostat, security hub and smoke/CO sensors, Siri didn’t work with any of it.
I ended up returning all 3 homepods and bought 2 of the new Sonos beam soundbars that have Alexa built in and a Sonos one for our bathroom and honestly have never been happier! I did like the HomePod but I’ll wait a couple years for HomePod 2 and a much better lineup of smart home support (hopefully).
I love the music in your review.
I’ve just bought my second HomePod to create a stereo pair and the sound is amazing. I agree that at full price they are just a bit overpriced, even taking the quality into account. But with a special pay monthly deal through my employers I just couldn’t resist!
A great video, very informative. I am thinking of buying a Homepod and this has made that decision a lot easier, thanks.
the music can play direct from the homepod and it can be played from the iphone also. it’s confusing because sometimes you don’t know if it’s coming from the iphone through airplay or from homepod directly through the apple music internet. odd. apple needs to figure out the dilemma.
Agreed. And I’d like multi-user or multi-device support too.
I live in Toronto (Canada) and our prices are $100 more over here (so $450) and for the longest time I wanted the HomePod when it was released. I didn’t purchase it because price and saved up and bought a Bose speaker instead. It was horrible with Apple Music and only forced me to connect to their stations. So I returned it and just got a HomePod. I wanted to test it out and return it but... I bit the apple and it’s probably one of the best purchases I made in 2018 hands down. Purchased this in November. Not sure if our Best Buy had the same sale ... (Sad I missed it if I did because that’s where I had bought mine as well) but I WILL without a doubt be needing a second of for that full experience you and everyone else is saying. I just need to find a much cheaper one or when the price drops... but I want one now.
Thank you for the video. So many videos on RUclips are negative and don’t even give the HomePod another change at all even AFTER all the amazing updates he had last year since the release.
Thanks for watching! That’s part of why I made the video. I wasn’t seeing anyone revisit it after all the Siri updates and sales that were going on. Glad you liked it. I’ve been shopping around for a used HomePod because that’s the easiest way to save $100 or more.
Undecided with Matt Ferrell thank you!
Also. If you do end up getting another speaker would you do a Stereo pair video review as a mini update on how you feel? I’d love to hear your opinion. I’m definitely going to get one regardless myself though.
You can count on it ... just need to find a good deal.
It’s awesome when controlling video with Apple TV. You can ask Siri to skip or rewind whatever amount of time you want!!! Pause without a remote.
I love the HomePod. i have 6 in my home throughout different rooms.
I’m a little jealous.
Nice review! Given just how good the Tesla Model 3 sound is though, how would the Homepod compare to it?
Thanks! Not sure I’d compare a single HomePod to the M3, but the HomePod has excellent definition like the M3. And the way it directs sound around a room without a sweet spot is similar to the M3’s immersive audio setting.
Hey Matt, Great video bud. I just want to give you my personal opinion. I have two Homepods and I love them, they sound amazing when paired up without a doubt! And I only paid $125 for one and i traded a couple things and paid $80 for the second one. So I am proud of that too lol. I am truly hoping that Apple will come up with some great updates for Siri this year. For the record 75% of my house is automated and Siri is without a doubt the fastest, response wise, for any automation in my house.
Thanks! I’m looking to get a second HomePod now, but am trying to find a good deal on one. Something tells me I won’t find as good a deal as you got though ... nicely done. Siri really is responsive, isn’t she? Google Assistant has been growing on me and is definitely better to use that Alexa now, but there are times where it’s really, really slow to respond.
Undecided with Matt Ferrell absolutely. I love Siri for my lights and all. I use my Apple Watch 4 and my iPhone XS Max for everything along with my homepods. I love apple. I have a couple google mini and I recently bought the third generation echo dot and it’s great, way better than the last one (WAY BETTER LOL). Now if you don’t care about some things being used you can check the Facebook market place and get a HomePod for 200 dollars. Guaranteed. Let me know if you do please. I wanna do videos also since I have a lot of tech I just can’t get myself to take the leap.
Undecided with Matt Ferrell. Also I don’t know why Alexa and Google are so slow to respond and Siri is so fast. What could be the main difference?
This is only a theory (I’d love to talk to an Apple/Google engineer to get the inside details), but from what I understand it’s because Apple is doing more processing locally on your iPhone, iPad, or HomePod than Google or Amazon. Apple has the fastest mobile processors out there right now and has custom silicon for breaking down the Siri commands on device before having to hit the cloud for answers.
www.imore.com/how-hey-siri-works
www.quora.com/How-does-Google-Assistant-work
And there are more recent reports that Apple is actively working on trying to make Siri more capable locally ... without the need for an internet connection at all.
appleinsider.com/articles/18/11/15/apple-considering-offline-mode-for-siri-that-could-process-voice-locally-on-an-iphone
It’s all interesting stuff ... really curious to see how Siri continues to improve because Google still has a big lead with accuracy/natural language.
Undecided with Matt Ferrell That would be insane. Without internet? Got to love the Apple echo system. Check this out.
facebook.com/marketplace/item/584739801965281/
Nicely done. I got a HomePod when it first came out and I felt he sound was Meeee. I took it back. I like Apple products as a whole.
With Amazon’s Prime day just happening I thought that I’d get and Echo and start building a smart house. I reconsidered after thinking about all of the privacy and security breaches. Now I’m reconsidering the HomePod as a hub to do my smart house. Especially with Apples announcement about networking and HomeKit expansion. Do you have any thoughts on that?
Thanks
Thanks for watching! And I definitely have a lot of thoughts about that ;-). Apple is setting themselves up into a fantastic position with the Homepod and iOS 13. The fact that they’re finally tying HomeKit and Shortscuts together in a meaningful way is going to open up a ton of customization options. And I’m excited to see how the Homepod ties into all of this with the changes coming for that too. I’ve been testing out the iOS 13 beta, but none of the updated Homepod functionality has been available yet. As of right now, I’m excited at the possibilities ... but I’ll have to wait for the final (or near final) versions before making any real judgement. I’m just as excited for things like the Homekit Secure Video and router features.
If you still haven’t jumped into Alexa, or anything really, I’d hold off for a little bit longer. We’ll know a lot more in the early fall.
@Undecided with Matt Ferrell, great thoughts, thank you
Got one recently on Christmas. Im enjoying it a lot and compared to other smart speakers, I don't really miss something in the day to day use. Im just happy to look at it and listen at it.
There is just one thing im missing and where my day to day use reminds me every time: It's a cheaper, smaller version for the Bathroom.
Man im so tired to pair my phone every morning to the Bluetooth box and than couldn't even skip a song, because Siri can't hear me under the shower
I didn’t comment on that in my video, but it does look fantastic. And I’m in the same exact boat with a tiny speaker for the bathroom.
For me an iPhone user it’s useful because I can play my iTunes playlists. Most smart and Wi-Fi speakers like SONOS force you to pay a stream music service. They don’t allow you to play your purchased music. Cons is its high price. Multi-room Wi-Fi speakers Alternatives? Creative Labs Omni and JLab Audio House Party Series to name a few. In which you can play your playlists stored on your phone or portable music player and even Spotify. They’re platform-free, doesn’t matter if you have HomeKit Siri, Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant devices
Good suggestions. There are good alternatives out there (hoping to get my hands on some of them for testing). But from all of the ones I’ve tested so far, the HomePod has the best audio quality for the price.
By the way, I enjoy your accurate and helpful reviews
Thanks!
Why doesn’t Apple stress how brilliant it works with Apple Music? I can completely use music from my phone. It’s like a remote control for music. If I’d known that I would have bought it a long time ago. I paid $299 and am satisfied. $350 is too much. I enjoyed your review
Using the homepod and its and excellent piece of equipment, thinking of getting a second. Great video btw, I’m still unsure of the sound demo what so many people do, almost cringe. Suppose you have to give the audience the chance to hear for themselves though. Looking forward to seeing more of your work
Thanks! Yeah, I’m really not a fan of audio demos in videos and normally don’t do them. I’ve had some people request them on previous videos, so thought I’d give it a shot. They don’t give you a sense for how it sounds in person for obvious reasons, but there are some minor differences you can pick up on ... what those differences mean in person is another story.
Thank you, this was a great overview and comparison. I too bought the Apple Homepod this last holiday season when Best Buy had their sharp discount. I still don't always get it to connect the way I want to my iTunes, but this is a learning curve for me.
Having trouble getting iTunes to use Airplay with the Homepod?
Very nice review. Main point is that it's too expensive for most people at $350. $250 is a more realistic price. But also the integration is a problem. If you are not tied into Apple ecosystem there's no reason to buy one. I have an Apple TV but to be honest my Amazon Firestick has a better UI. I absolutely hate the Apple remote. With Amazon Echo dot I can run an AUX out cable to my bose sound wave speakers and play anything on my iPhone plus movies plus network TV. Can I do that with HomePod?
You can play pretty much anything via Airplay to the Homepods from Apple TVs, Macs, iPads, iPhones. But yep, it’s only useful to people fully in the Apple ecosystem. And you won’t hear any arguments from me on the Apple TV remote. It’s really, really bad.
I agree with you. At $250 it's a buy. At $350 it's too expensive. Apple needs to wake and realize they need to be more competitively priced with all their products nowadays. But I doubt they will.
I was interested in the Homepod just as a speaker as I had heard such good reviews about the sound quality. After further research I discovered it wouldn't easily work with my android phone or other audio devices (no aux input) and I don't use Apple music. In the end I bought the LG PK7 speaker with Meridian audio tuning. It cost about £100 and sounds awesome to my ears plus has all the connectivity inputs I need. The Homepod could be the best sounding speaker in the world, but if I can't connect to it, it's useless to me.
Yeah, Apple devices only. I haven’t heard the LG in person, but the specs look really good on it. My one frustration with those types of speakers though is that they don’t support Apple’s Airplay or Google’s Chromecast. Both of which allow for easy multi-room audio if you have multiple speakers around the house.
@@UndecidedMF yes that's true but that wasn't really important for me. I have an old school hifi set up in my lounge and the pk7 speaker is portable enough to use everywhere else. I can connect it to any TV just using a simple aux cable. Interestingly the speaker's clear voice preset is brilliant for movies where the dialogue is drowned out by the soundtrack and sound effects, because it pushes the dialogue to the forefront of the sound stage.
Nice. My first rule for any recommendation is to use the right tool for the job. Sounds like the LG PK7 is ticking all of those boxes for you.
Damn, this is a top notch video production and content wise. Good job, Matt.
Thanks!
Great review Matt. I have been debating for weeks in getting one b/c the $250 is enticing. Also, as a casual listener I regard more performance(audio quality) as a top priority. I’m in the Apple ecosystem(various Apple devices) however I’m not subscribed to Apple Music(I use Spotify). Do you think having the HomePod and using airplay2 worth the purchase at $250?
Moreover, with the recent news of Apple being a bit more open(more accessible to other parties). For example, adding Apple Music to echo devices and allowing airplay2/iTunes to Sony,Samsung,etc. Do you think Apple will allow native support on the HomePod from other services like Spotify in future updates? Also what do you predict Apple will do with the HomePod lineup and future updates?
Thanks again for detailed review
Thanks! I think it’s worth $250 for AirPlay 2 ... mainly because you can talk to the speaker to get it to stream things directly from your iPhone (for many apps that support Siri Shortcuts). If you’re all in on the Apple ecosystem without Apple Music, you can still get a lot out of this speaker.
For the future I seriously doubt that Apple itself will put native support for other music streaming services directly on the HomePod anytime soon (but it will get there in other ways). I think we’ll eventually get it through deeper and better Siri Shortcut integrations, but it will require the app installed on an iPhone or iPad in the house. What I think is most likely to happen would be a rev on the hardware, and maybe another model targeted at a different price point (like a HomePod Dot). And if things really start to gel, I could see them go down the path of something similar to the Apple Watch. In time the Apple Watch has handled more and more of the processing and features directly on the Watch. I think the HomePod could go that direction too. Perhaps Apps could be built like Apple Watch apps, where the developer can easily add HomePod functionality to their existing app. If you install that app on your phone, it automatically gets added as an app on the HomePod. Something like that would give the HomePod more on-device control for radically different apps and streaming services. And finally, multi-user/multi-device support. Right now the Homepod is tightly tied to one person/one device. Since this is something that sits in a house, it clearly can have multiple users. I think that’s something that Apple will have to tackle ... hopefully sooner than later.
Pulled the trigger at $250, it has since dropped from $349 to $299. Also, they regularly go on sale at stores such as Best Buy.
Bargains do crop up from time to time at Beat Buy still. Also, if you don’t mind refurbished, you can pick them up for a nice discount from Apple itself. Macsales also tends to have them for $250: eshop.macsales.com/item/Apple/MQHW2LLA/.
Another excellent review my friend!! I am in the market for a nice speaker for my home office. With the recent price drop, albeit not the great Christmas deal you got, the HomePod (HP) is looking more attractive. That being said, curious if HP could replace bulky external speakers plugged into my MacBook (MBP) Pro 2018 headphone jack? Can the HP also serve as a surround sound speaker w/my ATV 4K which is also in my office connected to a nice 65” Samsung OLED? Would be nice to position the HP in my home office and stream music from the MBP while studying and then from ATV 4K while watching a movie. Possible? Is this how you are using it in your home office Matt? Finally, are you using any type of stand? Heard HP leaves rings on wooden furniture.
Thanks for watching! Glad you liked it.
I was happy to see the price drop because it puts it into the reasonable range for what you’re getting. You can absolutely stream any audio you want to it through Airplay 2 from a Mac or an Apple TV. I do that frequently in my home office where my speakers are. I’ve watched plenty of videos on my Mac with audio coming through them. While I’ve tested the audio from an Apple TV, I haven’t done that extensively. It worked great while I tried it. One note on that, it won’t do surround sound. At the moment the Homepods can only be used in something like a stereo pair and Apple doesn’t emulate true surround sound if you have more ... or if you want to use the Homepods for surrounds only.
As for the ring issue, I have mine on a couple of small black drink coasters. You can barely see them under my speakers.
Apple TV + Stereo HomePods for the bedroom has been a great experience for me.
Nice! How well do they stay connected to the Apple TV for you?
Flawless, great alarm clock too, wish apple tv locked connection with tv though. Annoying trying to set airplay from some apps
Good to know. I’ve been meaning to experiment with that.
It stays connected until I take over airplay with my phone. The way to do it probably is to airplay to apple tv once apple tv is air playing to HomePods. Needs to be more automatic so no matter what if you play something on Apple TV it takes over HomePods. But generally great if you don't have a cable box. Wondering if Sonos new amp can be used to take all tv sources audio and pop it to HomePods...
Would be nice to get xbox on the pods
I also now have bought a second one for the $250 this holiday and have them paired. Great sound. I send my apple TV sound there as well. I get most use from having apple music and can ask Siri to play anything I want. Love the HomePod.
Just ordered a second one for myself!
Matt, a great video and you make some great points. You hit the unfairly high expectations of any Apple release on the head IMO. You also made great points in the confusion about how the MSRP is too high for casual listeners who will go with an Echo if they're not deeply in the Apple ecosystem, or a 3rd party Airplay/AP2 speaker if they are. On the other end, as you said, audiophiles wouldn't dare want to listen to music over a wireless speaker, even though the HomePod does sound amazing for what it is. Apple is definitely playing on the audio side of the HomePod. However, when the Apple Watch was first released, Apple didn't really seem to know what it was going to be. They focused primarily on the interchangeable bands in their first TV commercial, pushing it as a fashion accessory with smart-watch features, and didn't start really moving units until they found their groove marketing it as a fitness wearable. I could gab at length about the Apple Watch, but my point is that it's it's a good example for Apple missing a step out of the gate on a new device but finding their footing for v2.0.
I'm definitely in the Apple ecosystem (Macbook, ATVs, Apple Watches, iPhones, iPad, Homekit, etc.), and when the HomePod came out, I couldn't see buying it for two reasons: 1) I'm not an Apple Music subscriber and that seems to be the HomePod's bread & butter, and 2) I nearly always have either my Apple Watch and/or my iPhone on my person so summoning Siri for a request isn't hard. Between the Hey Siri compatible devices, Apple needs to sort out which one answers. I hate when I go to initiate Siri and 3 devices spring up interrupting each other. #FirstWorldProblems I also really don't like that if I have a HomePod, there doesn't seem to be any way to stop guests or anyone other than myself from reading back text messages, email messages, etc. Otherwise, HomePods would be awesome just for Homekit voice-control alone.
I would love to see new versions of the HomePod compete with some of the same device types like Amazon's Echo devices. A HomePod Mini, or a HomePod Show/Spot? Fix the guest access to personal info and YES PLEASE!
Thanks! Totally agree on your point about the launch of the Apple Watch. Apple really didn't seem to know who that product was meant for ... they lost the thread of a product story there and it took some time for them to figure it out. It's not the exact same thing with the HomePod, but it's similar. I'm hoping they find and craft a better product story with v.2 and other sizes/options for it. I'd be all over smaller Echo Dot like devices.
I also think that every voice assistant has a problem with multi user support, and whole home support. Google and Amazon can be programed to recognize certain voices, but what that means is still pretty limited. And none of them do a good job in a whole home situation. Setting a timer should be accessible anywhere on any of the devices, not just the one that originally responded to the request.
What do you think now Dec 2019 Best Buy has them for $200. Thinking about picking up two do these to replace my 10 year old Bose 321. What do you think? Is this an upgrade?
One rule that I've learned about Product Reviews is that you can't quote Special Sale prices as they change over time and tend to be different around the world if they have sales. (eg. Best Buy has a sale, but a UK retailer can not match a similar price). So you have to compare by the RRP. Sale price of the Apple Home Pod is still overpriced.
Yes Best Buy's $250 price for the Apple Home Pod was good (at the time). But this video is already out-dated as Best Buy finished the sale and returned to regular pricing. It's back at $350. Cardinal rule of Tech reviews.
Otherwise a good look through and comparison of the HomePod vs the Competition.
Homepods are $199 now at Best Buy! Which Now I feel its more justified worth buying.
I was also attracted at the 250 price. But could not execute the purchase from outside the US. Still waiting on another round from Bestbuy.
Definitely recommend jumping on it if/when that prices comes back around.