The latest Apple HomePod speaker It retails for $285 at B&H Photo, which is $14 less than buying directly from Apple. It is not biggest cash discount we have seen and before Apple accumulated Device with a $50 gift card on Black Friday. But since it’s arriving in early 2023, deals of any kind on the home speaker have been rare, so this modest drop still represents the lowest price we’ve seen in the past few months. The discount applies to both the black and white versions of the speaker.
Photo: Billy Steele / Engadget
That discount isn’t an all-time low, but deals of any kind on Apple’s top-of-the-line smart speaker have been rare.
We gave it to the second generation HomePod 84 points in our study last year. This will make the most sense if you’re a dedicated Apple user who prioritizes sound quality. It still works seamlessly with other Apple devices and services iPhones for Apple TVs for Apple Musicand we generally sound richer and clearer than that competing smart speakers From Amazon and Google. As a smart home device, it is suitable The issue and layer Thread on top of Apple’s own HomeKit protocol, so you can use it to control a growing number of security cameras, thermostats, outlets, and other smart home accessories. It also has built-in temperature and humidity sensors, and its built-in microphones work well for picking out your voice through the noise.
To be clear, this is still an expensive and relatively niche device. Speakers like the Sonos Five and Sonos Era 300 it costs more but offers higher and more dynamic sound quality Sonos Era 100 may be better value if you want to save a little more money. Apple’s own HomePod Mini If your main concern is that it has almost all the same smart home features, while Google Assistant and Alexa users still Google Nest Audio or an Amazon Echo device. The HomePod also has its issues: Siri isn’t the most capable voice assistant, it doesn’t have Bluetooth audio, you can’t customize its EQ, and you need a solution Control Spotify with your voice. Rumors a touchscreen HomePod swam during the last year. All in all, if you’re into Apple, this is a decent chance to save on the company’s top-of-the-range home speaker.
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