The HomePod history should be analyzed in detail. In early 2021, Apple announced it was stopping manufacturing the original HomePod. Thanks to this, he began to market the HomePod mini, a speaker that had more or less the same characteristics but with a smaller size. However, the original HomePod, the larger one, returned with a 2nd generation a few days ago. We will now analyze what are the characteristics of the three HomePods that have existed to date but we have already announced that the features aren’t as differential as many had hoped.
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Apple says goodbye to the HomePod
The HomePod 2 is reborn with few new features compared to the rest of Apple speakers
Outside, they are identical. The 1st generation HomePod and HomePod 2 At first glance, it appears to be the same product. However, Apple assures that inside they have changed the technology and made the new product more powerful and the sound result is even better than the previous one. It must be taken into account that the 1st generation stopped selling in March 2021, so its design and production began years before. So, regarding the technology, we are sure that there will be news. Especially considering that integrated Apple Silicon chips,
Let’s talk about the relevant: sound characteristics
The most relevant aspect in a loudspeaker is the sound and its inner characteristics that reproduce sounds. In the case of the HomePod 2, there’s not much difference from the original. In fact, the only novelty commented on by Apple is a new advanced computer audio system with system detection to adjust the sound in real time. If we compare it with the first generation, this system is not “advanced” so it has been renewed.
Compared to the HomePod mini, the new speaker features high-excursion woofers, five beamforming tweeters, spatial sound, and a spatial sensor as differential aspects. Mostly highlight the spatial audio and the space sensor, something characteristic of the great HomePod compared to the min.
A relevant aspect regarding the operation of the HomePod is that to integrate stereo sound by pairing several speakers, the two to be paired must be of the same type and generation. That is, either two HomePod minis, two 1st generation HomePods or two 2nd generation HomePods. Mixtures between generations or different products are not valid.
A look at connections and sensors
Another differential aspect, clearly, around all speakers are Casa app sensors, connectivity and management. The new HomePod 2 integrates compatibility with the Matter and Thread standards. Moreover, it incorporates a S7 chip and a U1 chip,
On the other hand, connectivity The new HomePod embeds the WiFi chip 802.11n, it’s a bit less modern than the original HomePod’s chip. Experts say it needed to be able to use the Thread system properly and carry Apple Silicon S-series chips and not A-series. Bluetooth 5.3, but obviously this connection is only used to pair and start the product for the first time.
“Hi? Hi? Test, test…”: speakers and microphones
We can’t forget one key aspect of HomePods and that’s their loudspeaker function and interaction with Siri via microphones. In fact, the HomePod mini has 4 microphones, some loudspeakers with a broadband transducer but no woofer, some specific loudspeakers for low frequency sounds.
In contrast, the 1st-gen HomePod has a high-quality woofer in addition to six microphones and 7-row horn tweeters. New HomePod 2 reduce the microphones by two, leaving only two, and the reduction of the dedicated 5-row tweeter, also including the 4-inch woofer.
Apple, in fact, highlights the power of its new speakers in the HomePod 2 by highlighting deep and rich bass sounds which can be obtained in addition to the battery of tweeters used. In this case, it highlights how the voices are going to be shown more crystal clear.
Prices, colors and sizes
Finally, a small comparison with the availability in terms of prices, sizes and colors of the three products. The HomePod 2 has a weight of 2.3 kg, a height of 16.8 cm and a width of 14.2 cm. On the other hand, the 1st generation weighed a little more, around 2.5 kg, and although the width was maintained, it was slightly larger with 17.2 cm. Finally, the HomePod mini was the smallest of them all with only 345 grams, 8.43 cm high and 9.79 cm wide.
When it comes to color availabilities, the HomePod mini stands out with its 5 colors available, while the larger HomePod is only available in space gray/black and white. Finally, in terms of price, the HomePod mini is priced at $109, while the HomePod 2 is priced at $349, which is the same price as the 1st-gen HomePod when it was released from the market in March 2021.
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