The Apple HomePod is a great device that many people are interested in purchasing. However, it is important to know a few things about the device before you go out and purchase it. This article will provide some information about the features of the device, as well as some tips on how to get the most out of it.
Mini vs original
When Apple introduced its HomePod in 2018, the speaker was touted as the smart speaker of the year. It positioned itself as an intelligent speaker that could replace a full-sized home theater system, providing killer sound and a voice assistant. Unfortunately, the speaker failed to deliver on that promise.
The company has now launched a new HomePod in the form of the HomePod Mini. Although it looks similar to the original HomePod, it has a few key differences.
Compared to the original, the HomePod Mini is smaller, lighter, and has a lower price tag. It also uses a new chip. Instead of the S5 chip found in the HomePod, the new model uses a U1 chip, which appears in the Apple Watch Series 6 lineup.
However, it lacks the same advanced audio hardware that the original HomePod boasts. Instead, the new speaker is equipped with a single full-range driver. That means it’s better at handling multiroom audio and studio pairing.
Sound quality
HomePod is a smart speaker that is part of Apple’s ecosystem. Its audio quality is excellent, but it’s not the most advanced smart speaker in the market.
One key to its audio quality is that HomePod is a true unidirectional speaker. This means that it doesn’t contribute any hum or vibrations to its sound.
HomePod also uses beamforming, a technology that creates a virtual array of soundbeams when the device is placed near a wall. These beams are pointed at the wall for direct sounds, or they’re aimed at a corner for ambient sounds. The result is a large, three-dimensional soundstage.
In a sound test, HomePod beat the Amazon Echo and Google Home. Both devices have similar smart features, but HomePod’s sound is much more precise.
Apple’s microphones pick up your voice and it works well even in noisy environments. However, HomePod is limited to Apple music services, which is a disadvantage. You may need to use a smartphone or third-party music services like Spotify, if you don’t want to rely on Siri.
Apps that work with it
If you’re a fan of Apple products, you have probably heard of their HomePod. Basically, it’s a Bluetooth-enabled speaker that acts as a sort of bridge between your smartphone and your other gadgets. That’s not to say it’s not capable of its own thing.
The HomePod isn’t the first high-end Bluetooth speaker to come along. However, it’s the best of the lot when it comes to sound quality. It’s capable of producing surprisingly good sound without distortion for an audio component of this heft. And its mics are arguably some of the best on the market.
What’s more, you can set it up in virtually any room in your house and take it with you anywhere. This is great for multi-room scenarios, where it’s not so nice to have a home theater with a speaker that’s too big to be useful in the living room.
Obviously, there are restrictions. In the case of the original HomePod, it’s not going to compete with the likes of Google Home or Amazon Echo.
Discontinuation
Apple has recently decided to discontinue the original HomePod. This is a huge disappointment for many fans of this device. It was a high-end speaker that was said to offer killer sound. However, the company never found a market for the product. Instead, they focused on the cheaper, smaller HomePod mini. While the larger HomePod never sold well, the HomePod mini has been doing better.
While the HomePod has been discontinued, the company says that it will continue to produce the HomePod mini. The device will also be receiving software updates. Those who own the HomePod will be able to continue to receive support from Apple Care.
While Apple isn’t offering an official reason for the discontinuation of the original HomePod, it’s a good sign for specialist devices like Sonos. Although the HomePod was touted as a killer sound, it never surpassed the goal of replacing a home theater. With the announcement of the mini, Apple may be hoping to fill a room with ‘truly unbelievable’ sound.
