HomePod review: Apple’s smart speaker still sounds mighty

The HomePod is again with a bang! Sure, after being despatched packing again in 2021, this premium good speaker is again in shops and its audio credentials will definitely make a really huge impression on anybody who buys it.

The massive query is, do you have to actually spend £299 on this system or just fill your property filled with vastly cheaper Amazon Echos?

Specific.co.uk has been placing the all-new HomePod 2023 by way of its paces and right here is our full overview.

So long as you personal an iPhone – and it is up to date to the very newest model of iOS 16 – the HomePod is a breeze to arrange. In reality, from the unboxing to belting out the primary tune you will solely be ready a couple of minutes with Apple doing the entire heavy lifting for you. Plug this speaker into the mains then merely maintain your iPhone or iPad close by. The whole lot else is then taken care of with the HomePod routinely connecting to your Wi-Fi and linking as much as your iCloud account in order that Siri can add reminders to your calendar, set alerts and add issues to your purchasing record.

It is so easy even the most important technophobe should have no points – it is price noting that Android customers ought to most likely steer clear as this working system is not supported and you may’t beam songs on to the HomePod through Bluetooth with this system utilizing Apple’s AirPlay expertise as a substitute.

For those who have been hoping that the rebirth of the HomePod would imply a shiny new design you could be disillusioned as this speaker appears nearly equivalent to earlier than.

Meaning it nonetheless will get these curved edges and material end with each White and Midnight (that is a intelligent manner of claiming black) accessible at launch.

There are some delicate modifications together with a barely sunken touch-style management panel plus Apple is promising that it has fastened the difficulty which left some customers with a nasty mark on their worktops from its rubber base.

The HomePod’s minimalistic design nonetheless appears nice and is a pleasant addition to any shelf in your house.

If we had one moan it could be that there is not any strategy to simply see in case your Siri voice command has been heard. The well-known multicoloured sample does glow on that top-mounted contact panel however if in case you have the speaker greater than your eye line it is unattainable to see it.

Amazon fastened this concern by introducing a glowing mild across the base of its Echo and it is a disgrace Apple hasn’t adopted with one thing comparable.

You will additionally have to get the grasp of the HomePod’s contact controls as there aren’t any bodily buttons to skip tracks or pause songs. It takes a minute to get used to however issues work effectively when you study the completely different faucets and swipes.

Identical to the unique HomePod, this new good speaker is actually, actually good. It doesn’t matter what your style in music, this system will make it sound elegant with a stage of element that is fairly laborious to beat.

Because of its round design – and a mixture of spectacular {hardware} and intelligent software program – the HomePod is ready to provide an expertise that fills a room with unimaginable noise. It is truly fairly magical and at instances you are left questioning how one small speaker is ready to produce such immersive audio. We all know it’s a large cliché to say the musician may very well be within the room with you nevertheless it’s actually that good.

To assist obtain this spectacular audio, Apple has tucked 5 tweeters, a custom-engineered high-excursion woofer and a strong motor that drives the diaphragm to 20mm underneath the material shell. This all helps produce spectacular highs, wealthy lows, crystal clear vocals and really deep bass (extra on that later).

To assist ensure each consumer will get the last word expertise, there may be additionally a brand new S7 processor inside and sensors that alter the sound relying on the place it’s positioned inside a room. For instance, the HomePod is aware of if it is pushed up towards a wall or has been positioned proper in the course of the kitchen with it then adapting the sound in real-time.

There’s additionally full assist for intelligent Spatial Audio. For these that won’t have heard of this expertise, Spatial Audio give artists the chance to create immersive audio experiences for his or her followers with true multidimensional sound and readability. This mainly makes the sound seems to hit your ears from all instructions making issues sound way more true-to-life and fascinating.

For those who’ve bought loads of cash within the financial institution you too can splash out, purchase two, and switch them right into a stereo pair.

We have been testing out this operate and it truly is mightily spectacular – at £300 for every HomePod it is also massively costly!

Now, we have got to speak concerning the bass. Throughout our first few hours of testing, the HomePod was producing some fairly intense noise which was nearly disagreeable on the ears.

Fortunately this concern has now gone away with issues sounding way more like we have been anticipating. We’re guessing Apple’s intelligent AI listened in and tweaked the settings to verify our room was getting the proper stage of bass with out being so overpowering.

For those who actually do not like issues sounding too bass-heavy then you too can flip issues down a bit through the Residence app.

That is additionally the place you possibly can hyperlink audio system for multi-room and alter different settings comparable to Siri instructions and notifications.

One last function to concentrate on is that house owners of the Apple TV 4K can hyperlink the brand new HomePod as much as this streaming field to assist enhance the audio when watching the telly. We’re nonetheless absolutely testing this operate and can replace this overview within the coming days.

General, there actually is not any query that this new HomePod sounds fairly epic and house owners positively will not be disillusioned after they pump up their playlists.

Through the years Apple has positively improved its good options with Siri now in a position to deal with nearly the whole lot you ask of it. You possibly can play your favorite playlists, examine the climate, get information stories, set timers and management issues comparable to quantity through easy instructions.

If in case you have an iCloud account you too can set reminders or calendar entries which then immediately sync along with your iPhone, iPad or Mac. Buying lists will also be created, telephone calls made and iMessages despatched with out ever touching your telephone and there is even a brand new Intercom possibility which lets you summon the household down for tea with out shouting up the steps. All of it works very well.

Siri even recognises voices which suggests it may provide improved solutions for various members of the family.

Nevertheless, that is all fairly customary stuff – and Alexa and Google Assistant have been in a position to deal with all of those voice instructions for years. And whereas Apple has been enjoying catch-up with Siri, Google Assistant has gotten a lot, a lot smarter.

When asking for issues comparable to practice instances, Siri remains to be unable to reply with the assistant telling us to examine the net as a substitute. Not splendid.

Say the identical factor to the Google Assistant or Amazon’s Alexa and they’ll present solutions with pinpoint accuracy – even including in some additional data, just like the period of time our subsequent practice would take to achieve central London. So, it is clear there’s nonetheless a bit of labor to do earlier than the HomePod can match the complete energy of its rivals.

The very fact the HomePod is not fairly as good as the opposite good audio system in the marketplace is an annoyance for these paying a premium for the Apple-branded equipment, however there’s a greater concern for customers within the UK.

One among our largest gripes with the unique HomePod is that it could not entry any BBC radio stations and that concern nonetheless stays.

Shout “Play Radio 2” to your 2023 HomePod and you will get nothing in return, with Siri apologising that “I can not play that radio station”.

This stays a serious draw back for anybody who enjoys the BBC with their morning espresso and it is one thing that wants addressing particularly when you think about how many individuals tune in to those stations daily.

In fact, there are different radio channels to take heed to and, when you subscribe to Apple Music, the HomePod can maintain you entertained all day and lengthy into the evening with curated music, podcasts and personalised suggestions all accessible. But it surely’s disappointing to see among the hottest stations not be supported on HomePod within the final two years. Each Google and Amazon good audio system assist BBC out of the field.

Though the design appears fairly just like earlier than there are some new additions hidden underneath its shell.

Apple has launched a built-in temperature and humidity sensor to the HomePod that may measure the temperature of the room it’s positioned in.

House owners may even then set automation comparable to closing blinds ought to issues begin getting too scorching. It’s extremely intelligent though you will have to verify your property has appropriate good equipment for it to work.

One other good bonus is that speaker can hear the sound of smoke or carbon monoxide alarms and immediately ship a notification to your iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch.

Hopefully, that is one thing you will by no means want nevertheless it may definitely turn out to be useful ought to the more serious occur.

With a £299 price ticket, the brand new HomePod isn’t low cost. In reality, it is £100 greater than a Sonos One and £200 greater than Apple’s compact however nonetheless fairly spectacular HomePod mini. You could possibly purchase three of those diddy units for a similar worth as considered one of their greater brothers.

This can be a premium good speaker that does sound mighty. You will simply have to be ready for some invoice shock particularly when you fancy making an attempt out that Stereo Pair function which requires two of them.

We beloved the sound of the primary HomePod and its reincarnation is simply nearly as good as earlier than. Identical to most of Apple’s audio merchandise lately, the brand new HomePod excels and anybody shopping for this refreshed good speaker can be handled to an audio expertise that is wealthy, highly effective and full of element.

Though we discovered the brand new bass ranges a bit excessive to start with, the HomePod’s intelligent AI quickly bought that underneath management and we have been left mightily impressed by the sound this system is ready to produce.

The straightforward set-up can be an enormous bonus and, though the design hasn’t modified a lot, it nonetheless appears ok to be positioned in essentially the most luxurious residing rooms.

Though there’s heaps to love, it is nonetheless a disgrace that Siri can not help with as many queries as Alexa or the Google Assistant.

For those who love BBC content material it is also massively irritating that you need to launch the Sounds app then AirPlay its content material as Siri nonetheless is not appropriate with this standard service.

At £299 the HomePod can be fairly costly.

We’re nonetheless a bit baffled why the HomePod was despatched to room 101 just for Apple to now deliver it again to life.

That stated, it is good to see this system again on sale as while it is not excellent there is not any denying that it is the best-sounding good speaker cash should purchase.