Apple is discontinuing the original HomePod smart speakers. The accessory, which arrived in 2018, was designed to bring the best out of Apple Music and offer direct access to Siri. It has since received praise for its amazing sound quality, and criticism for its lack of third-party support and the steep pricing (US$ 349/AU$ 469) was a turn-off for most consumers due to the availability of cheaper alternatives in the home speaker market.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Henceforth, Apple will favour the HomePod Mini over the main HomePod model. The Cupertino giant will now channel its resources on the HomePod mini and have updated its online store in various countries to reflect ‘While Stocks last’ on the speaker’s product page. It is already unavailable in several regions, however, both colour options are still available online in Australia.
Commenting on the discontinuation, Apple told TechCrunch;
“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 $99. We are focusing our efforts on HomePod mini. We are discontinuing the original HomePod, it will continue to be available while supplies last through the Apple Online Store, Apple Retail Stores, and Apple Authorized Resellers. Apple will provide HomePod customers with software updates and service and support through Apple Care.”
While there is no concrete news of any replacement yet, the HomePod Mini (US$ 99/AU$ 149) brings all the features of the original HomePod in a smaller package. It made its debut alongside the iPhone 12 5G smartphone series late in 2020, and offers Siri integration as well as smart home control, and Homekit accessories. It features the Ultra-Wideband (UWB) chip and delivers access to both Apple Music and third party music streaming services.