We put the Apple HomePod through its paces
What’s under the microscope?
The newest home smart tech – the second-generation Apple HomePod.
Is the Apple HomePod good?
The elevator pitch please… In a word – it’s a speaker. Oh, and you get Siri, Apple’s intelligent assistant, as well as a smart-home hub.
What does an Apple HomePod do?
Profound sound with room-filling oomph. “A high-excursion woofer packs HomePod with deep, rich bass. Its powerful motor drives the diaphragm a remarkable 20 millimetres, while its bass-EQ mic dynamically tunes low frequencies in real time.” As for the five beamforming tweeters: “They optimise high frequencies to produce detailed, articulate audio with stunning clarity so you can enjoy crystal-clear vocals and all the details of the instruments – just as if you were there in person.”
The HomePod also comes with Siri built in, so you can set reminders and timers, send messages and, if you have the correct smart-home accessories, ask her to lock doors or turn the lights on as you walk through the door. You can discover even more of the Apple HomePod’s tech specs and features here.
Does the Apple HomePod listen to your conversations? How secure is it?
People do have security concerns about smart devices collecting information about us, but my life would send whoever was supposedly listening to sleep in no time. Also, Apple promises that all your data is safe and they never sell or share it, so rest assured, no one will know that you secretly listen to Harry Styles when home alone.
Is the Apple HomePod worth it?
I haven’t quite cottoned on to transforming the house into a smart-home hub, so it’s mostly the speaker options I was about. But whoa. The sound is amazing and once you’ve heard The Eagles play the live version of Hotel California on the HomePod you’ll agree. I’ve never been a fan of The Eagles but the experience made me a total convert. It’s like the duelling guitarists were plucking every string centimetres from me. One HomePod is amazing. Two HomePods give out-of-this-world stereo sound.
It can’t all be milk and roses. Are there any downsides to the Apple HomePod?
HomePods are not compatible with Spotify, so you will need an Apple Music subscription to play music – but every HomePod comes with a free six-month sub so you can access more than 100 million songs. Then it’s $16.99 a month ad-free.
Is the Apple HomePod complicated to use?
Not at all. All you need to do is say “Hey Siri, play…” and she’s away. She has extraordinary hearing so you can be on the other side of a room and she’ll respond.
The HomePod is not even difficult to set up. Well, I say that because a teenager did it, but it didn’t look hard from where I was sitting. All you have to do is plug it in and hold your iPhone next to it, then follow the instructions and you’re away laughing.
How much does an Apple HomePod cost? Where can I buy the Apple HomePod in New Zealand?
$529 each from Apple outlets. The Apple HomePod is available in white or midnight black. There’s also the Apple HomePod mini, priced at $179 and available in five bold colours.
Shop the second-generation Apple HomePod here.
Words by: Fiona Hawtin
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