The HomePod is a series of smart speakers developed by Apple. Designed to work with the Apple Music subscription service, the HomePod incorporates beamforming and eight speakers and is sold in two colors: white and midnight.[3][4] It is sold alongside the HomePod Mini, a smaller and less expensive variant introduced in 2020.
The first-generation HomePod was announced on June 5, 2017, at the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference.[5][6] Its planned December launch was delayed:[6][7] Apple began taking orders on January 26, 2018, and released it on February 9, 2018.[8] The HomePod received mixed reviews: it was praised for its design and sound quality compared to other speakers of its price, and criticized for lack of third-party support and high price compared to other smart speakers. The first-generation HomePod sold an estimated 1 to 3 million units through August 2018. It was discontinued on March 12, 2021.[9]
The second-generation HomePod was announced on January 18, 2023, and released on February 3.[10]