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True Score is an AI-powered algorithm of product tests and customer reviews.
Mixed Reviews
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Top product testers were delighted by the Apple HomePod, and they recommended it for music, podcasts, and voice assistant functionality. They were impressed by its built-in Siri voice assistant, excellent soundstage, and low Wi-Fi latency. But they were disappointed that it doesn’t support Bluetooth streaming.
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The Apple HomePod is a premium wired smart speaker released in 2018, promising intelligent voice assistant features for indoor users.
Unlike most of the best speakers today, this device uses Apple AirPlay, connecting via Wi-Fi 5. It comes with Siri built-in, picking up voice commands from afar easily.
This speaker has a pleasant, neutral sound profile and retains audio quality even at high volume settings. Continue reading our Apple HomePod review.
our Verdict
Experts adore the Apple HomePod, and they recommend it for music, podcasts, and voice assistant use. Testers at TechRadar hailed its controls and speakerphone functions.
Editors at RTINGS liked its portable 5.5-lb construction. It has a 360-degree design that boasts an outstanding 0.97 dB directivity index, providing excellent soundstage performance, although it lacks EQ settings.
See our Google Home Max review if you desire EQ settings. However, it does not support stereo. With a 53.4Hz to 19.1 kHz frequency response range and good 0.19 slope accuracy, this device produces well-balanced sounds.
However, it lacks low bass and is not well-suited to movies. Testers recorded a good 88.5 dB SPL and great 2.41 dB DRC compression at maximum volume.
With built-in Siri, this speaker’s voice assistant features are extraordinary, although it lacks a microphone mute button.
It connects to AirPlay via Wi-Fi- 5, and testers liked its decent 37 ms AirPlay latency.
ReasonS to Buy
Reason to Avoid
 | Wireless Connectivity | Bluetooth, Wi-Fi |
 | Works With | Amazon Alexa |
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 Apple Homepod Review | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
True Score | 77 | 85 | 77 | 82 |
Ranking | # 81 / 109 | # 4 / 109 | # 83 / 109 | # 37 / 109 |
Market Context |
The Apple HomePod is a premium wired smart speaker released in 2018, promising intelligent voice assistant features for indoor users.
Unlike most of the best speakers… The Apple HomePod is a premium wired smart speaker released in 2018, promising intelligent voice assistant features for indoor users. Unlike most of the best speakers today, this device uses Apple AirPlay, connecting via Wi-Fi 5. It comes with Siri built-in, picking up voice commands from afar easily. This speaker has a pleasant, neutral sound profile and retains audio quality even at high volume settings. Continue reading our Apple HomePod review. |
The Apple HomePod has a more balanced sound profile, featuring a more neutral 0.19 frequency response slope than the -1.22 of the Amazon Echo Gen… The Apple HomePod has a more balanced sound profile, featuring a more neutral 0.19 frequency response slope than the -1.22 of the Amazon Echo Gen 4. However, the Amazon device supports Bluetooth, unlike the Apple device, which uses AirPlay. |
Unlike the Sonos One Gen 2 that struggles to pick up voice commands in noisy environments, the built-in Siri voice assistant in Apple HomePod picks… Unlike the Sonos One Gen 2 that struggles to pick up voice commands in noisy environments, the built-in Siri voice assistant in Apple HomePod picks up voice commands well. Although these two devices have a similar maximum SPL dB, the Apple has a lower 2.41 dB DRC sound compression than the 4.89 dB of the Sonos portable speaker. |
The Apple HomePod has a more neutral sound profile, featuring a lower 0.19 slope than the -0.41 slope of the Apple HomePod mini. The HomePod… The Apple HomePod has a more neutral sound profile, featuring a lower 0.19 slope than the -0.41 slope of the Apple HomePod mini. The HomePod also gets louder, boasting a higher 88.5 dB SPL that beats the 76.7 dB SPL of the mini. See our Apple HomePod mini review for details about the mini. |
Wireless Connectivity | Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | – | – | – |
Works With | Amazon Alexa | – | – | – |
Dig Deeper |
Updated every 24 hours
E
Expert Score
*.75
We place a 75% weighted value on Expert Test Scores
C
Customer Score
*.25
We place a 25% weighted value on Customer Scores
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