Apple announced HomePod (2nd generation), a powerful smart speaker that delivers next-level acoustics. Packed with Apple innovation and Siri intelligence, HomePod offers advanced computer audio for a revolutionary listening experience, including support for immersive Spatial Audio tracks.
With new ways to manage daily tasks and control the smart home, users can now create smart home automations using Siri, receive notifications when a smoke or carbon monoxide alarm is detected in their home, and check the temperature and humidity in the room – all hands-free.
The new HomePod can be ordered online and in the Apple Store app starting today, and availability begins Friday, February 3.
HomePod has a gorgeous design with seamless, acoustically transparent mesh fabric and a backlit touch surface
Advanced design
With a seamless, acoustically transparent mesh fabric and a backlit touch surface that glows from end to end, the new HomePod features a design that complements any space. HomePod is available in white and midnight, a new color made from 100-percent recycled mesh fabric, with a color-matched fabric power cord.
Acoustic power
HomePod delivers incredible sound quality, with rich, deep bass and stunning treble. The specially engineered high-excursion tweeter, the powerful motor that drives the membrane by a remarkable 20mm, the built-in low-frequency microphone and the five-speaker beam array around the base all work together to deliver a powerful acoustic experience.
Users can listen to a catalog of over 100 million songs with Apple Music, enjoy surround audio with a single HomePod or as a stereo pair, or create an immersive home theater experience with Apple TV 4K. With Siri, users have access to a range of music knowledge and can search by artist, song, lyric, decade, genre, mood or activity.
To easily console over what’s playing or get personalized song and podcast recommendations, anyone in the home can bring the iPhone closer to the HomePod and suggestions will automatically appear
A heightened experience with multiple HomePod speakers
Two or more HomePod or HomePod mini speakers unlock a variety of powerful features. Using multiroom audio with AirPlay, users can simply say “Hey Siri” or tap and hold the top of HomePod to play the same song on multiple HomePod speakers, play different songs on different HomePod speakers, or even use them as an intercom to broadcast messages to other rooms.
Seamless integration with Apple’s ecosystem
Using Ultra Wideband technology, users can stream anything playing on iPhone – such as a favorite song, a podcast or even a phone call – directly to HomePod. To easily control what plays or receive personalized song and podcast recommendations, anyone in the home can bring the iPhone closer to HomePod and suggestions will automatically appear.
A key element of Smart Home
With the sound recognition feature, HomePod can listen for smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and send a notification directly to the user’s iPhone if a sound is identified. The new built-in temperature and humidity sensor can measure the indoor environment, so users can create automations that automatically close the blinds or turn on the fan when a certain room temperature is reached.
Users can also intuitively navigate, view, and organize accessories with the redesigned Home app, which offers new categories for climate, lighting, and security, allows for easy smart home setup and control, and includes a new multi-camera view.
Matter maintenance
Matter launched last fall, allowing smart home products to work across different ecosystems while maintaining the highest levels of security. Apple is a member of the Connectivity Standards Alliance, which supports the Matter standard, along with other industry leaders.
Users can intuitively navigate, view, and organize accessories with the redesigned Home app
Customer data is privately owned
Protecting customer privacy is one of Apple’s core values. All smart home communications are always end-to-end encrypted so they cannot be read by Apple, including camera recordings with HomeKit Secure Video.
HomePod and the environment
HomePod is designed to minimize its environmental impact, and incorporates 100 percent recycled gold – a first for HomePod – in the coating of multiple printed circuit boards and 100 percent recycled rare earth elements in the speaker magnet.
