Apple launches US$350 HomePod smart speaker today, but it’s late, lacks connectivity, and is priced at a premium
Three years after the Amazon Echo debuted, the HomePod has a lot of catching up to do. Apple is talking up its sound quality, but rivals are improving theirs, and the price tag will make it a test of brand value
Apple has announced a February 9 release date for its smart speaker called the HomePod – allowing the company that first popularised virtual assistants through its smartphones to finally enter the market for virtual assistants in the home.
The looming question for the company, though, is whether it is too late.
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Apple is releasing its smart speaker nearly three years after the Amazon Echo and after the Google Home, which launched in 2016. Apple originally scheduled the HomePod to hit the market in December 2017 before the critical holiday shopping season. But the device was delayed until early 2018, past the time for avid shopping and gift giving.
For those wondering whether they should buy Apple’s new thing, here’s a look at how the HomePod stacks up.
By setting the price of the HomePod at US$350, Apple appears to be hoping consumers will see it as a premium device.
