There was a bit of disappointment when Apple discontinued the HomePod smart speaker two years ago and introduced the smaller HomePod mini, as the HomePod is still a more impressive speaker that delivers big, room-filling sound than its mini sibling, and we are thankfully seeing Apple introducing the 2nd Generation HomePod.
Available in Midnight and White color options, the 2nd Generation HomePod looks rather similar to its predecessor, as the cylinder-shaped speaker has a fabric mesh wrapped around it and houses a 4-inch high-excursion woofer, powerful motor, five beamforming tweeters and internal bass-EQ mic.
Credit: 9to5Mac
Computational audio is available just like the AirPods, as the HomePod is now powered by a S7 chip that handles feedback from an all-new system sensor to run complex tuning models in real time to preserve dynamic range and maximize acoustic performance, the built-in mics will listen to sound reflections and automatically tunes the soundstage to optimal listening conditions regardless where it is placed.
One thing that will excite the smart home enthusiasts is that the 2nd Generation HomePod has support for Matter, a new connectivity standard that’s coming to many smart home accessories, it also supports Dolby Atmos when paired to an Apple TV 4K.
The 2nd Generation HomePod will be available on 3rd February onwards in the US and retails at US$299, it is also available in Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, the UK and 11 other countries.
