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Apple HomePod sales are hugely disappointing, new reports say

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The Apple HomePod hasn’t exactly received the most favorable of reviews since it made its debut in early February. The smart speaker from the iEmpire went through months of delays before finally hitting shelves, and while everyone could agree that the sound quality of the speaker was top notch, folks were decidedly less impressed by its “smart” capabilities.

After all, there’s no support for non-iOS devices, nor is there built-in support for music sources other than Apple Music. Plus, Siri voice control and interactions with other devices isn’t so great — at least, not yet. And while Apple has said that it’s planning on adding more functionality sometime later, it may need to pick up the pace. Because sales are flagging big time.

As per a Bloomberg report, the $349 price tag of the HomePod seems simply too high for many would-be customers. In fact, as of late March, Apple had diminished its sales forecasts and reduced orders with one of its manufacturers, Inventec Corp. Despite strong pre-order numbers, when the HomePod actually arrived in stores, folks seemed a lot less motivated to take the smart speaker home.

In the first 10 weeks of the HomePod’s sales, it managed to corner just 10 percent of the smart speaker market. For comparison, the Amazon Echo line managed to grab 73 percent of sales, while the Google Home claimed 14 percent of sales, as per Slice Intelligence.

In the three weeks after the HomePod’s launch — generally a time when demand ought to be high — HomePod sales were just 4 percent of the smart speaker landscape. As a result, Apple is dealing with quite a backlog of inventory, and some retail locations are said to be selling fewer than 10 units a day.

Part of the problem may have been related to the fact that Apple did not make its originally anticipated December release date, which likely would have boosted sales during the holiday shopping spree. And given that other smart speakers on the market are significantly more affordable — and boast more functionality — it comes as little surprise that customers are not lining up to spend an arm and a leg on what is ultimately a glorified boombox.

That said, Apple is in fact rumored to be releasing a cheaper $150 version of the HomePod later this year. This may just be the move the company needs to make to make its smart speaker a must-have device.

Lulu Chang
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Fascinated by the effects of technology on human interaction, Lulu believes that if her parents can use your new app…
Apple HomePod vs. Apple HomePod 2023
Apple HomePod second-gen.

It has been quite a few years since Apple first launched the (now-defunct) HomePod, but the old smart speaker has been given a revival. The second generation HomePod retails for $299, and it offers some serious improvements over the original. Not only does it bring enhanced audio quality, but there are plenty of other upgrades that make it much better than its older sibling. Here’s a closer look at all the differences (and similarities) between the original HomePod and HomePod 2023.
Design

When compared side by side, you won’t notice many differences between the two HomePods. The new HomePod is about 200 grams lighter than the original model and is a couple of millimeters shorter, but overall the two are very similar. The touchpad on top of the HomePod 2023 is also a bit larger and now extends almost all the way to the edge of the device. Beyond those minor differences, they both sport an oblong design and come in multiple colors.
Speakers and sound
A diagram of the second-gen Apple HomePod internals (left) seen next to those of the first-gen HomePod. Image used with permission by copyright holder

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Apple has kept the temperature and humidity sensor deactivated for years, although now, with the launch of a new HomePod around the corner, the company has finally gone ahead and turned on the instrument in its existing Home Mini lineup. Once your HomePod Mini receives the update, you’ll be able to use it to track both the temperature and humidity in your home, then use that information to create various automations through Apple Home.

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Apple recently announced a new HomePod with support for Matter, but it seems the company might have bigger smart home plans for the rest of 2023. According to the latest report from Bloomberg, Apple is allegedly working on an iPad-like device that could directly compete with Amazon’s Echo Show and Google’s Nest Hub Max.

Details on the rumored product are scarce, but it seems the device would feature a touchscreen and function similar to an iPad. Magnets would allow it to be mounted to a wall, and HomeKit would give it access to all your smart home products. It’s unclear at this time if the device would feature a stand, allowing it to sit on your countertops like the Echo Show and Nest Hub. What is clear, however, is that Apple wants to gain a stronger foothold in the smart home market -- and this could serve as a great alternative to using the HomePod Mini as a HomeKit hub.

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