After removing its first-generation connected speaker introduced in 2017 from sale, Apple is relaunching the HomePod. And this time it wants to do even more for a price equivalent to the launch price (349 euros): offer high-end sound, but also allow complete and versatile control of the connected home. HomePod (2nd generation) is available in black or white this February 3 at the Apple Store and partner brands.
The HomePod (2023) looks almost exactly like its predecessor. It is still circular and quite imposing (16.8 cm high x 14.2 cm in diameter), in mesh fabric that allows sound to pass through for better acoustics (100% recycled fabric for the black version). Available in black or white, it easily integrates into any interior. Please note that the corresponding power cord is slightly shorter than the above.
In the upper part we find the touch surface that is no longer flush as in the first model, but a little deeper. It allows you to control the volume, change the song, but also activate the Siri voice assistant with a long press on the center. Then a wide luminous halo lights up. The set is robust, far from being entirely light (2.3 kg) and therefore much less transportable than the HomePod mini. Once installed in your home, you won’t want to move it around too much.
Setting up the HomePod is pretty simple. Just plug it in and pull out your iPhone or iPad to be detected. Scan the halo at the top so that the device is recognized and takes advantage of all the settings of its source (internet connection, identifiers, parameters, etc.) before associating it with a room in the house. In less than two minutes, that’s it. The speaker then appears in the Home app with various possible configurations, the home automation scenes with which to associate it, the routines, but also the alarms and some minimal audio adjustments (elimination or not of bass).
For sound settings, it’s even simpler. HomePod scans the environment to adjust its sound. Therefore, it listens in real time to sound reflections off walls and furniture to recalculate and deliver the most accurate sound experience based on the room and its location, but also based on the song being played or the audio output (movies, podcasts, etc.). , etc.). The result is consistently high-quality sound, regardless of where the speaker is placed.
Apple has revised the architecture of its HomePod. It is somewhat less equipped than its predecessor (5 tweeters instead of 7 to direct the sound, 1 woofer with equalization microphone for bass, four microphones instead of 6). But the built-in power (Apple S7 chip) and software capability take you to another dimension of sound.
The sound is richer, punchier and more balanced. It’s also more detailed (for instruments) and more accurate (for vocals, especially female ones). Already very good, sound reproduction spreads more widely in the room, thanks also to the addition of audio spatialization that gives your music more breadth, whether you’re listening to pop, urban or symphonic music. And by connecting a second HomePod in stereo, it’s even more massive (but necessarily more expensive).
It will be criticized for a more marked presence of bass, which, however, can be toned down in the device settings. Whether it’s with Apple Music, Deezer, TuneIn for radios, or other supported third-party services (but not Spotify yet), the audio quality is superior.
When combined with Apple TV 4K that supports HDMI eARC, you can enjoy content in Dolby Atmos, even if your TV doesn’t support it. In eARC, it even renders other devices connected to the TV (console, configured soundbar, etc.) and allows you to enjoy better sound in both games and movies.
It is also possible to take advantage of calls on the HomePod by answering from the speaker or simply transferring the call to it from the iPhone. Just bring the iPhone closer for the transfer to be done immediately in proximity. This also applies to music and any sound content. In addition, since Siri is more powerful than in the first HomePod, like the microphone, the messages dictated by the user are better understood.
When it launched, the HomePod mini was much more versatile, with less audio quality compared to its predecessor. The HomePod (2023) combines the best of both and reinforces their strengths. Because in addition to his strength in music, he also wants to be much more useful in controlling the house without hands.
Thanks to the presence of Siri, you can turn on your lights, close your blinds, launch your routines, in addition to simply asking about the weather, traffic, appointments or the latest information. Coming in the spring, an update will allow HomePod to send a notification to its owner if it hears a smoke or carbon monoxide detector alert.
In addition, Apple has equipped this new HomePod with a humidity sensor and a temperature sensor. Which automatically adjusts the heating or closes the blinds if it suddenly gets colder, too hot or too sunny. The speaker supports Matter, the new protocol for standardizing connected objects, and will therefore be able to support any Matter device, sometimes simply by connecting it to a smart plug.
HomePod also lets you use the intercom feature to notify family members on compatible devices (iPhone, iPad, etc.) or to find your lost items stored in the Locate app.
If you’re on Android or just have a Mac, you can’t use the HomePod, which remains in Apple’s closed loop and even restricted to just iPhones and iPads for setup.
It’s a shame that a speaker of this caliber doesn’t offer access to advanced audio settings. The only parameter of the device is the activation or not of bass reduction. We would have liked a tuned equalizer, although the speaker calibration work is very good and the sound finally offered quite neutral.
No pairing with other HomePods in stereo
HomePod can multi-room with another HomePod (1st Gen) or HomePod mini located in another room for continuity of listening. But it is not possible to pair HomePods of different categories in stereo due to their structural and software differences. Fortunately, the AirPlay function allows you to add HomePods to other speakers from partner manufacturers to create audio systems like a Home Cinema.
Spotify customers penalized
If it is possible to use the HomePod to listen to your music on Spotify, the Apple product does not allow -as it happens with other services such as Apple Music or Deezer- to launch a song by voice. An important gap given its use, which we hope to fill one day through software development.
Catering to customers looking for a smart home “hub” that goes beyond home automation, Apple is smartly relaunching its HomePod with its great audio qualities improved. If you are passionate about home automation and are looking for a product for children’s use, you will love this HomePod. If the main use is still music, the first generation HomePods could be relevant, which can be found at more affordable prices. Despite its recent price increase, the HomePod mini is an effective alternative if you want a more contained format. Among the competition, the Amazon Echo Studio is also attractive, for a much more affordable price (200 euros).
Source: BFM TV
