HomePod

Reception

The HomePod received mixed reviews. The review from The Verge praised the HomePod's automatic acoustic calibration system, and felt that it sounded "noticeably richer and fuller" than competitors such as the Sonos One (described as sounding "a little empty") and Google Home Max (described as being a "bass-heavy mess").^[4] The review from Ars Technica stated that the sound quality of the HomePod was "pretty good, rich and full for its size, better than the Sonos One but probably not $150 better, [and] a galaxy ahead of the Echo."^[15]

Its lack of support for third-party services and platforms was criticized,^[12][15][4] with Ars Technica arguing that it gave the device "intense inflexibility".^[15] Siri on the HomePod was also criticized for its limited functionality in comparison to assistants such as Alexa and Google Assistant; The Verge cited the inability to actually place phone calls from the speaker (they must be made on an iPhone and transferred to the HomePod), set multiple timers at once, or distinguish between multiple voices, and only supporting basic commands when using AirPlay, among other limitations.^[4][12] Multiple reminders can be used in lieu of multiple timers, albeit with less precision than a timer.^[19] All these issues have been fixed in iOS 12, released on September 17, 2018.^[14]

The Verge gave HomePod a 7.5 out of 10, writing that it "does more to make music sound better than any other speaker of this kind has ever done before", but that consumers should consider other options "unless you live entirely inside Apple's walled garden and prioritize sound quality over everything else."^[4] Wired shared similar criticisms over its lack of Siri functionality and support for third-party services, concluding that the HomePod would be of little interest to those who are not heavily invested in Apple's software and hardware ecosystem.^[12]

It was reported by some owners that the HomePod's silicone base stained oiled wooden surfaces with a white "ring" mark.^[20] Although Apple states that "it is not unusual for any speaker with a vibration-dampening silicone base to leave mild marks when placed on some wooden surfaces", and that the marks would eventually "improve" on its own, Stuart Miles (founder of the British technology blog Pocket-lint) reported that in his experience, the stain occurred after only about 20 minutes of use on a wooden surface, and that he had to sand and re-oil the surface to remove it.^[21] John Gruber criticized Apple for this abnormality, remarking that he had never seen an Apple product damage surfaces in such a manner before, and that it "seems like an issue that should have been caught during the period where HomePod was being widely tested at home by many Apple employees."^[22] Apple issued a support document suggesting to concerned users that they place the HomePod on a different surface.^[23]

Marketing and sales

To promote the HomePod, Apple released "Welcome Home", a four-minute film directed by Spike Jonze and starring FKA Twigs; commercial-length versions were also produced.^[24]

Strategy Analytics estimated that around 600,000 HomePods were sold in the first quarter of 2018, making it the 4th-best-selling smart speaker brand after Amazon, Google and Alibaba, giving Apple a 6% market share in the industry.^[25] The HomePod also had 6% market share in the United States according to a report from Consumer Intelligence Research Partners and sold an estimated 700,000 units worldwide in the second quarter of 2018.^[26] Also in the second quarter of 2018, Strategy Analytics estimated that the HomePod outsold all smart speakers that cost more than $200, giving Apple a 70% market share in premium brand smart speakers.^[27] As of mid-2018, the HomePod had sold an estimated 3 million units.^[28] Sales increased 45% in Q4 2018, with Apple selling 1.6 million units that quarter.^[29] In April 2019, Apple reduced the price to US$299; Gizmodo noted that permanent price cuts on current-generation Apple hardware are "beyond rare—they’re nearly unheard of."^[30][31] In March 2021, the price was reduced to £279 in the UK.^[32] As of May 2021, Apple was still reportedly selling units manufactured for the HomePod's launch stock.^[30]

Discontinuation

On March 12, 2021, Apple discontinued the HomePod, but kept the HomePod Mini. In a statement, Apple said "HomePod Mini has been a hit since its debut last fall, offering customers amazing sound, an intelligent assistant, and smart home control all for just $99. We are focusing our efforts on HomePod mini. We are discontinuing the original HomePod, it will continue to be available while supplies last through the Apple Online Store, Apple Retail Stores, and Apple Authorized Resellers. Apple will provide HomePod customers with software updates and service and support through AppleCare."^[33] In July 2024, Apple classified the HomePod as "vintage," affecting its repair eligibility at Apple Stores and authorized service providers. Apple was criticized for violating its own policies for classifying products as vintage, which its website states were discontinued "more than 5 and less than 7 years ago"; at the time, the HomePod had been discontinued for three years and four months.^[34]

Reliability issues

Following its release, many users reported sudden shutdowns of the HomePod, often without any apparent cause. These failures are generally linked to a chip (diode) located on an internal circuit. Around the world, independent repair technicians have shown that replacing this component—costing only a few cents—can be enough to bring the device back to life, even though Apple officially refuses to offer out-of-warranty repairs for this model. While Apple has not justified the discontinuation of the original HomePod on technical grounds, several observers believe that the device’s recurring failures may have contributed to this decision.^{[35][36][37][38][39][40]}

Touch surface issues

The second-generation HomePod also appears to face reliability issues, particularly with its touch surface. Some users report malfunctions leading to unintended activations or unresponsive controls, and in some cases even complete failures related to this area.^[49][50]