As far as smart speakers are concerned, Apple’s HomePod is definitely not one of the cheaper options out there. At an initial launch price of $349, it was definitely more expensive than many of the options out there, plus reviews of the speakers aren’t exactly glowing, meaning that it is an expensive pill to swallow for would-be customers.
There have been rumors suggesting that a cheaper HomePod Mini could be in the works that made its rounds last year, but nothing came of it, but it looks like that might finally be happening this year. This is based on a report from Bloomberg last year in which it was suggested that the cheaper HomePod could be launching early this year.
Not much is known about the cheaper HomePod or how much it would cost, but it is said to sport fewer tweeters compared to the original HomePod, but it will be interesting to see how that will affect the overall sound. Apple had marketed the HomePod as being a high-end speaker, which is how they justified the price tag, so we’re not sure how the company plans on positioning this cheaper alternative.
If the reports are true, then we might be seeing the device announced in the next month or so. Apple typically hosts events in the early part of the year to announce new Mac refreshes. However, this year we might also be seeing the launch of the iPhone SE 2/iPhone 9, and now maybe the HomePod Mini as well, but until that actually happens, take it with a grain of salt.
Filed in . Read more about Connected Objects, HomePod, IoT (Internet of Things), Siri and Speakers. Source: macrumors