Apple on Wednesday introduced an all-new second-generation HomePod for the 2023 year, which is similar in size and heft to the original HomePod. But don’t be fooled, there are key differences between these models.
If you’re wondering what the differences between this new model and the original are, then you’ve come to the right place. iDB will take the opportunity in this piece to compare their hardware and specs side-by-side.
Differences between the all-new HomePod and the original
Here are the primary differences between the all-new HomePod for the 2023 year and the original that launched back in
Size & Weight
Original HomePod:
- 6.8 inches high (172 mm)
- 5.6 inches wide (142 mm)
- 5.5 pounds in weight (2.5 kg)
HomePod (2nd generation):
- 6.6 inches high (168 mm)
- 5.6 inches wide (142 mm)
- 5.16 pounds in weight (2.3 kg)
Colors
Original HomePod:
- Space Gray
- White
HomePod (2nd generation):
- Midnight
- White
Audio technology
Original HomePod:
- High-excursion woofer with custom amplifier
- Array of seven horn-loaded tweeters, each with its own custom amplifier
- Six-microphone array for far-field Siri
- Internal low-frequency calibration microphone for automatic bass correction
- Direct and ambient audio beamforming
- Computational audio for real-time tunin
HomePod (2nd generation):
- 4-inch high-excursion woofer
- Array of five horn-loaded tweeters, each tweeter with its own neodymium magnet
- Internal low-frequency calibration microphone for automatic bass correction
- Advanced computational audio with system sensing for real-time tuning
- Room sensing
- Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos for music and video
- Four-microphone design for far-field Siri
Both models:
- Multiroom audio with AirPlay
- Stereo pair capable
Audio Sources
Original HomePod:
- Radio stations from TuneIn, iHeartRadio, and Radio.com
- AirPlay other content to HomePod from iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Apple TV, or Mac
HomePod (2nd generation):
- Radio stations from TuneIn, iHeartRadio, and Audacy
- Remastered ambient sounds
- AirPlay other content to HomePod from iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, or Mac
Both models:
- Apple Music
- iTunes music purchases
- iCloud Music Library with an Apple Music or iTunes Match subscription
- Third-party music services
- Apple Music Radio or episodes on demand
- Apple Podcasts
- News briefings
Touch Controls
Both models:
- Tap to play/pause
- Touch and hold for Siri
- Touch and hold + or – for volume up or volume down
- Triple tap to skip back
- Double tap to skip
Sensors
HomePod (2nd generation):
- Sound Recognition
- Temperature and humidity
- Accelerometer
Chips
Original HomePod:
- Apple A8 chip
HomePod (2nd generation):
- Apple S7 chip
- U1 chip
Wireless
Original HomePod:
- 802.11ac Wi-Fi with MIMO
- Direct guest access
HomePod (2nd generation):
- 802.11n Wi-Fi
- Peer-to-peer discovery for easy guest access
- Thread
- Ultra Wideband for device proximity
Both models:
- Bluetooth 5.0
Conclusion
The HomePod (2nd generation) is the answer for anyone who thinks that the HomePod mini is too small. It’s a nice upgrade from the original HomePod, and for $299, you seem to get some decent features that set Apple’s smart speaker apart from the competition.
Does the HomePod (2nd generation) look appetizing to you? Let us know in the comments section down below.