Apple Ends Original HomePod Production to Focus on Mini Model
Apple officially discontinues the full-sized HomePod after four years, choosing to focus entirely on the smaller and more popular HomePod mini.
Apple officially discontinues the original HomePod after four years on the market. The tech giant now focuses entirely on the HomePod mini, which offers impressive sound quality and full Siri integration at a much lower price point. The smaller speaker successfully handles most of the tasks that the larger model originally performed.
The original HomePod stands as a massive feat of audio engineering that Apple spends over five years developing. To create this premium speaker, Apple builds a dedicated development center near its Cupertino headquarters that features a dozen anechoic chambers, including one of the largest in the United States. These specialized rooms allow engineers to perfect the complex array of tweeters and woofers while eliminating electronic hum and environmental interference.
Despite earning praise as one of the best home speakers ever made upon its 2018 release, the HomePod struggles with its premium price tag. The initial $349 cost puts it at the very top of the smart speaker market, and even a subsequent price drop to $299 fails to drive mass adoption. Ultimately, the more affordable HomePod mini proves to be the better business strategy for Apple going forward.