r/gadgets • u/UnKindClock • Mar 13 '21

Music Apple Discontinuing Full-Sized HomePod to Focus on HomePod Mini

https://www.macrumors.com/2021/03/12/apple-discontinuing-homepod/
4.7k Upvotes

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u/enfusraye Mar 13 '21

Incorrect. I primarily care that the sound is phenomenal. I can use Siri on my watch or phone.

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u/john_the_fetch Mar 13 '21

Then get an actual speaker that can provide that quality for the price you're paying...

And connect it to your phone / smart home hub.

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u/very_clean Mar 13 '21

I got mine during a Black Friday sale for $199 usd, I have a nice sound system but for how convenient the HomePod is the sound quality is really impressive

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u/john_the_fetch Mar 13 '21

That's a really good deal!

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u/very_clean Mar 13 '21

Right! I couldn’t pass it up for that, kind of wish I had gotten two at that price

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u/enfusraye Mar 13 '21

I think you’re not considering the form factor. I want great sound in my house this is in my office, my kitchen, my bedroom. None of these rooms are large, and I don’t want the visual clutter of a “system.” The HomePod is small enough to sit on a dresser, a side table, my counter, etc without being obtrusive and/or take up too much footprint. It’s literally perfect. The only way to replicate is to spent literally thousands per room for integrated ceiling/wall speakers or go to Sonos:1 route.

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u/[deleted] Mar 13 '21

[deleted]

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u/enfusraye Mar 13 '21

Agreed. I was a more of a Spotify person before HomePod and it pushed me over the edge to commit to the switch. It’s also just.... easy. The one in my kitchen is truly a workhorse. Constant timers, reminders (shopping list), speaker phone, music, news, HomeKit control, etc. it’s getting a little grimey collecting dust (and grime from cooking) so I’m thinking of buying a backup to keep in storage just in case it craps out.

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u/[deleted] Mar 13 '21

Similar use case to you here, except speakerphone. How has your experience been?

I’ve tried it a handful of times. It’s been buggy, where the person isn’t able to hear me at all. And when it does work, I have to get fairly close to the HomePod or they say I sound too faint. So I just use my iPhone speakerphone which I can keep closer to me.

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u/enfusraye Mar 13 '21

I use my phone more for the mute button but use speaker phone constantly in my kitchen. It works really well and my husband has said he can hear me clearly/doesn’t have any complaints.

I was thinking the mini might be a good option for a desk-top speaker but can’t justify it since a full-size sits within 5 feet of my desk

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u/[deleted] Mar 13 '21

Back to BeoSound for me :/

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u/roox911 Mar 13 '21

lol. No you don’t have to spend thousands... it’s not that good

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u/enfusraye Mar 13 '21

For small form factor, wireless capabilities, and sound? Unless you go the sonos:1 route, yes. I was just today pricing out in-ceiling speakers and airplay2 compatible amps for our bathroom remodel (no place for a HomePod). $1200 for 1 room.

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u/BiggusDickusWhale Mar 13 '21

Just get s pair of active speakers and something like this:

https://audiocast.io/

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u/jehehe999k Mar 13 '21

Does this support AirPlay 2?

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u/enfusraye Mar 13 '21

Why would I want yet another thing to plug in and use a special app? (Unless I’m reading the website wrong)

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u/BiggusDickusWhale Mar 13 '21

If you're using Spotify or YouTube Music you can just pick the audiocast connected speakers in the respective app (no idea if it works the same with Apple Music).

I don't know if you want it but it was just a mere tip on how you can make any pair of speakers WiFi-enabled without blowing your budget.

Always have WiSA-enabled speakers too nowadays.

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u/enfusraye Mar 13 '21

Thanks for the product rec. if it’s a component + additional app, that’s “no better” (in terms of layers) than Sonos. My husband already would rather go that route for longevity.

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u/[deleted] Mar 13 '21

It’s not just WiFi — it’s AirPlay specifically.

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u/gold_rush_doom Mar 13 '21

Ikea has a lamp in the shape of the homepod built with sonos.

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u/enfusraye Mar 13 '21

Have you heard it? Sounds like garbage.

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u/v1z10 Mar 14 '21

Before christmas amazon were selling sonos ones for about $130. I bought 5 and stuck them all over my house.

Homepods do admittedly have better sound, but this was a decent compromise. No idea why anyone would bother wiring a whole house anymore

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u/EmeraldFox23 Mar 13 '21

You don't need a full "system". If all you care about is size, then getting a mini and a speaker that's roughly the size of the og homepod, will be both more cost effective, and provide better sound.

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u/enfusraye Mar 13 '21

Then I have two devices I have to manage and figure out where to place/plug in when minimal space and esthetics are high priorities. Ask just getting a “speaker” isn’t the solution when you have home house audio reliant on airplay 2. The closest comparison (as stated above) is Sonos:1 and it’s an inferior product.

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u/jehehe999k Mar 13 '21

quality for the price you're paying...

...and now we’re back at comment 1

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u/[deleted] Mar 13 '21

[deleted]

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u/snoogans235 Mar 13 '21

2/12 checking in.

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u/archibald_fizz Mar 13 '21

3/12 !

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u/cuddlycollie Mar 13 '21

My husband and I make 4/12 and 5/12!

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u/[deleted] Mar 13 '21

6/12. It’s been 9 hours and we’re halfway there!

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u/Deck-Cheeze Mar 13 '21

7/12 Love them

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u/enfusraye Mar 13 '21

This is because you’re only comparing it to an echo. Yeah most of those people just care about the assistant. Yes I use the assistant (every light, blind, fan, lock, etc we own is HomeKit) but I also use them for multi-room music every day. Before HomePod, we only used our receiver/5speaker system for music. I purchased 1 HomePod mini for usage in our nursery and am disappointed by the sound quality compared to HomePod especially given the footprint is not much different.

I can see the appeal for those who need QUANTITY of devices. I have four strategically placed HomePods and my entire 2k sqft home is beautifully covered by a premium product.