Summary:
Apple has not given up updating the larger HomePod. Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman recently revealed that Apple still plans to launch a new full-size HomePod, but the specific release time has not yet been determined. The product will not be unveiled with the new HomePod mini, Apple TV 4K and new smart home hub planned to be released on October 13, and is expected to be launched later.
The new large-sized HomePod is expected to support smarter Siri AI, which may be one of the major upgrades. Since the current HomePod is equipped with the S7 chip used in Apple Watch Series 7, to support new AI functions, the new model may need to use a more powerful processor. Other possible improvements include improving sound quality, adding new colors, and using Apple’s self-developed N1 chip to support Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6.
Although the full-size HomePod is a relatively niche product, it is still attractive as a home theater system for Apple ecosystem users. Users can set two HomePods as the default audio output device for Apple TV 4K to achieve a stereo effect. This product was discontinued in 2021 and then relaunched in 2023.
Apple raised the prices of more than a dozen products in June this year, including the large-size HomePod. The product is currently priced at US$349 in the United States, which is higher than the US$299 when it is launched in 2023; when the first-generation HomePod was launched in 2018, the starting price was also US$349.
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