The Apple HomePod is a revolutionary product that has taken the world of smart speakers by storm. This sophisticated device combines high-end audio technology with an intuitive artificial intelligence system to provide users with a truly unique experience. With its sleek design and seven tweeters, the HomePod can fill any room with rich, full sound while providing access to Apple Music, podcasts, and more.
What you need to know
The HomePod is a smart-home device from Apple that packs many audio and home automation features. It uses five tweeters, a 4-inch woofer, and spatial audio technology to create superb sound quality for streaming music, podcasts and more. Plus, its compatibility with the new Matter smart-home protocol makes it possible to integrate all your connected home devices in one place. Its Siri-based voice control hub allows users to ask questions, set alarms and timers and access their calendar — all with the power of their voice.
Thanks to sophisticated algorithms, the HomePod can sense its environment and adapt its sound performance accordingly. It also features a narrow beam that helps it detect voices better— even when speakers are scattered throughout a room. With all these features combined, the HomePod may be just what you need for an immersive listening experience in any room of your house.
What we like about the HomePod
Decent (smart speaker).
The HomePod has a distinct sound profile compared to other speakers in the same category. It stands out with its strong mid-bass frequencies, delivering powerful punch around 100 hertz that accentuates instruments such as bass guitars and synthesizers. This can add a lot of energy to most music tracks, something fans of bassy tunes will really appreciate. We conducted direct comparisons between the HomePod and two similarly priced speakers—the Amazon Echo Studio and the Sonos One SL—which involved matching the volume to within 1 decibel accuracy. This ensured that all audio signals coming from each speaker would be nearly indistinguishable, allowing us to better hear the differences in their own sound characteristics.
Overall, all three speakers sounded good, though their sonic qualities varied significantly based on their design and features. Although no smart speaker can quite match up to a pair of decent bookshelf speakers, we feel like the HomePod performs well enough to satisfy most listeners who are looking for quality audio without breaking their budget.
It’s a good listener
The HomePod from Apple is an impressive device when it comes to being a good listener. With just four microphones, this 2nd-generation model has two fewer than the original, yet it still quickly responded to our inquiries and music requests as we tested it in a variety of scenarios. We even shouted at it from across the room and over loud music, and it still caught our commands! Siri’s ability to recognize commands is notable, but in comparison to Alexa or Google Voice, it often refers users to the internet for more intricate inquiries.
That unfortunately slowed its otherwise lightning-fast responses. Even when we used two HomePods in stereo mode there was still only a slight delay before answers were given—this small lag time appeared to be due to processing speed rather than sound transmission issues.
Handoff is a convenient trick
Handoff is an incredibly convenient feature for users of Apple devices. Using it, you can quickly and easily transfer a song or podcast from your iPhone to HomePod, allowing you to enjoy it on the higher quality sound system. All you need to do is enable handoff in your iOS setup menu, bring your phone near the top of the speaker, and the song will automatically be sent over. This makes it even easier than setting up AirPlay if you’re close by, and is faster than having to ask Siri to play it from scratch again.
Not only that, but Handoff also lets you go in reverse – sending whatever audio is playing on HomePod right back to your iPhone so you can listen while travelling or walking. You can even use this feature with other iPhones connected to the same Wi-Fi network – perfect for shared households where everyone has their own music library they want access to on both devices. Whether its podcasts, music albums or audiobooks, Handoff allows users of Apple devices quick sharing between all connected products quickly and conveniently.
The speaker has a highly developed ability to sense temperature
The HomePod and HomePod Mini are remarkable for their temperature-sensing abilities. These devices boast much more accurate readings than their competitors—instead of sticking to one temperature reading for days, the HomePod accurately reflects real-time climate changes in the house. This could be useful for those trying to set up a smart thermostat or humidifier that responds to home climate data.
These temperature readings appear in the Apple Home app, making it easier to find than on Amazon’s Alexa app which tends to bury temperature information in its settings pages. With just one quick glance at the App, users can get an instantaneous readout of what is going on in their home, making them aware of any changes quickly and easily. All of this helps create a more comfortable living space with increased ease and convenience, something that can really come in handy during extreme temperatures throughout the year.