Is there a HomePod 2 model from Apple in the works? According to early sources, Apple is still working on Siri-enabled smart speakers, and a new HomePod with an S8 chip could be released before the end of the year.
The difficulty with the Apple HomePod 2 rumors is that they presently focus on two distinct designs, one with an Apple TV 4K built-in and one without. At this time, the only definite thing is that Apple HomePod Mini will carry the torch for the ensuing six months; nonetheless, we are not complaining. One of the best smart speakers available, it has excellent sound for its size and, at $99, offers a more inexpensive option to start utilizing HomeKit than was previously available.
But since the HomePod mini has been available for almost two years, we wonder when a new model with improved features will be released. After all, providing in-house hardware is a requirement if Apple hopes to surpass Amazon and Google in the smart home market and become a major member of Matter.
Here is everything we currently know about the Apple HomePod 2, HomePod mini 2, or whatever name Apple decides to give its upcoming Siri speaker. We’ve compiled all the price and release date rumors that have surfaced, along with what we want to see, and we’ve also thought about what Apple’s most recent HomeKit updates might imply for HomePod. Read More; Amazon Echo (4th Gen) Review: Still the King
Apple HomePod 2: Release Date and Price
Following the release of the HomePod mini in October 2020, Apple announced a trio of vibrant alternatives at a product event in October 2021. The initial HomePod was introduced earlier, during WWDC 2017.
What does this indicate about when the Apple HomePod 2 might be released? A new HomePod is practically overdue, whether it comes out this year or in 2023. With the recent introduction of the MacBook Air M2 and MacBook Pro 2022 with the Apple M2 chip, Apple is again bringing hardware to WWDC. As a result, the next HomePod may debut during the developer conference, if not sooner, at its planned September event.
Ming-Chi Kuo, an analyst, predicts that the HomePod 2 could be available in Q4 2022 or Q1 2023. It appears more plausible that the AirPods Pro 2 will be introduced alongside the iPhone 14 and Apple Watch 8 before the holiday shopping season. Additionally, Mark Gurman of Bloomberg said that a new HomePod would debut in 2022, even though that information was released more than a year ago.
The size and design will affect the Apple HomePod 2 price. If it’s a direct replacement for the HomePod small, we anticipate it will still cost $99 dollars. The cost might be closer to the Sonos One ($219) or the original HomePod (initially $349, later $299) if it’s a larger speaker, perhaps with a display and better audio hardware.
Apple HomePod 2: Design
There isn’t really an “established” HomePod design, unlike the iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch designs, which largely stay the same from year to year with the occasional major modification. While the HomePod Mini is small, round, and has a flat top with multicolored status LEDs, the original HomePod was big and cylindrical.
The exterior of the Apple HomePod 2 may still primarily mesh, but it may also experiment with new form factors. The best smart display or a HomePod with a screen was on Apple’s agenda, but Ming-Chi Kuo stated that “there may not be much innovation in hardware design.”
Apple might offer a solution for you if you like a display on your smart device. According to Mark Gurman, Apple is developing a smart display that combines an iPad and a speaker, similar to the Amazon Echo Show. If ever, this might not happen until 2024 or even the following year.
Apple HomePod 2: Latest HomeKit Upgrades
The ongoing development of HomeKit is one indication Apple might be working on a new HomePod model. Apple debuted an updated HomeKit app for iOS 16 at WWDC 2022, promising “faster, more dependable performance.”
HomeKit-compatible gadgets appear to be better organized in the redesigned app from what we demonstrated during the keynote. Quick access to frequently used devices is provided, and a new multi-cam view allows you to simultaneously monitor feeds from all of your home’s top security cameras. Each of your connected items’ icons and icon colors can also be changed. Giving kids power over particular HomeKit gadgets is also simpler.
Apple HomePod 2: What we want to see
Based on what the HomePod mini lacks and what we enjoy about other smart speakers, we have developed a short list of improvements for the Apple HomePod 2. Here is what the HomePod 2 should offer.
Display and/or camera: What if the next HomePod could challenge the Amazon Echo Show 10 (3rd Gen) or Google Nest Hub Max? A display to the speaker would provide video conferencing from the kitchen or other key areas of the house and create an accessible smart home management hub. We don’t believe such a gadget would require iPadOS; it would only have standard Apple programs like FaceTime, Apple Music, and Podcasts.
Mobility: If the HomePod 2 doesn’t have a display, we’d prefer to see a wireless or portable version with an integrated battery. The next HomePod might also function as one of the top Bluetooth speakers, similar to the Sonos Roam or Bose Portable Home Speaker. Of course, it must have significant durability and battery life for outside use. Read Also; How To Create Your Own Alexa Routines
Support for third-party music streaming services: The one thing we’d change about the current HomePod is its compatibility with third-party streaming services (or lack thereof.) We enjoy Spotify, Tidal, Pandora, iHeartRadio, and other streaming music services in addition to Apple Music, which we consider to be one of the best. Although you can technically use AirPlay to stream most iPhone audio to a HomePod speaker, it would be lovely to ask Siri to play a Spotify-only podcast without interruptions.
