Despite having discontinued it in 2021, Apple has announced a new version of its HomePod smart speaker and these are all its improvements.
Apple has revealed a new version of the original HomePod , the smart speaker with which it intended to take on its Amazon Echo and Google Nest adversaries back in 2021, but which it discontinued in favor of its Mini model . The second generation of this device features a similar design to its predecessor, but features substantial improvements such as Matter support, an improved S7 chip, and superior sound quality.
Through an announcement published in their official Newsroom , those from Cupertino presented a renewed version of their legendary “big” HomePod that integrates special software to offer “more advanced computational audio”, as well as other features such as support for Spatial Audio both whether using a single device or two paired.
Apple renews the original HomePod with its second generation
One of the main novelties of this new version of HomePod is compatibility with Matter technology , a unified standard for smart devices that is already being adopted by various technology giants such as Google, Amazon and Samsung for their respective devices. Thanks to this, users will be able to link a wide variety of gadgets and control them using voice commands.
The second generation of the HomePod will have a more interesting role for those people who seek to maintain a Smart Home since the Matter standard will allow them to integrate the speaker into an ecosystem and they will be able to manage other devices such as smart bulbs from this main equipment.
When it comes to audio, this new HomePod will have a high-excursion woofer, a motor capable of driving the equipment’s diaphragm, a 20-millimeter bass equalization microphone, and a beamforming array of five tweeters around its base. . In addition to all this, it relies on the characteristics of its improved S7 chip to deliver better sound quality.
On the other hand, the new “large” HomePod also includes a function to detect the reflection of sound from nearby surfaces in a room to better adapt it in real time. The five tweeters that it has transmit direct and ambient audio through a directional control system of its formation matrix.
Other features of the original 2nd generation HomePod
The possibility of using more HomePod speakers to achieve a better sound experience is also present with this second generation. Pairing two speakers can achieve stereo audio in the same space while using more can play different songs simultaneously or be used as intercoms.
The design of the HomePod 2 maintains many similarities with its predecessor. It is 14.2 cm wide, 16.8 cm high and weighs 2.3 kg. It has an acoustic mesh and a backlit touch surface on its top that lights up from edge to edge when in use.
The second-generation Apple HomePod will be available on Friday, February 3 in select markets. Those interested can already reserve the device through the official website of the technology firm in colors “white” and “midnight” for a price of US$299: considerably cheaper than the launch price of the previous version since it cost US $349.