Apple Discontinues Original HomePod

After four years on the market, Apple has ceased production of its original HomePod smart speaker. The company will continue manufacturing and concentrating on the HomePod mini, which debuted the previous year.

While the larger HomePod delivered a more powerful audio experience, the mini has proven remarkably popular and effectively fulfills many of the functions originally assigned to its bigger counterpart.

The HomePod mini boasts impressive sound quality, particularly considering its size, and provides access to Siri, Apple’s intelligent assistant.

A Five-Year Development Process

The original HomePod represented a significant achievement in audio engineering, requiring over five years of development by Apple.

To facilitate this process, Apple established a dedicated development center near its Cupertino headquarters. This facility featured a state-of-the-art environment, including a dozen anechoic chambers – one of the largest such facilities outside of academic institutions in the United States.

The intricate design of the speaker, involving a complex arrangement of tweeters and woofers, was a testament to Apple’s commitment to quality.

Review and Key Features

Upon its 2018 release, the HomePod was lauded as one of the best home speakers available. Its exceptional bass response and precisely tuned tweeter assembly contributed to its superior sound quality.

The speaker’s cloth cover was specifically engineered to avoid any interference with audio output. Furthermore, it intelligently analyzed the acoustic properties of its surroundings, adjusting its performance to compensate for walls and other obstacles.

Apple demonstrably spared no expense in the creation of this speaker.

Pricing and Market Position

A primary obstacle to the original HomePod’s success was its initial price of $349, placing it at the higher end of the smart speaker market, especially among those with integrated voice assistants.

A subsequent price reduction to $299 offered some relief, but it still remained a premium product within its category.

The HomePod mini, launched last year, has garnered positive reviews, with Brian Heater noting its “remarkably big sound” for its $99 price point.

Apple’s Statement and Future Outlook

Apple provided TechCrunch with a statement regarding the discontinuation. Existing HomePods will remain available for purchase, though the Space Gray color is already sold out on Apple’s website.

The company will continue to support existing HomePod devices.

Apple appears to be prioritizing the HomePod mini, potentially indicating a strategy of providing adequate sound quality throughout the home rather than focusing solely on exceptional audio in the living room.

Despite its capabilities, the original HomePod never fully evolved into a complete home theater solution, even when used in multi-speaker configurations.

Legacy of Innovation

The research and development efforts invested in the HomePod will continue to influence Apple’s advanced audio rendering systems, such as Spatial Audio for AirPods.

The advancements made will live on in future products.

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