On Wednesday, Apple unveiled an all-new second-generation 2023 HomePod that is similar in size and weight to the original HomePod. But don’t be fooled, there are key differences between the models.
If you are wondering what is the difference between this new model and the original, then you have come to the right place. In this part, iDB will take the opportunity to compare its hardware and specifications.
Differences of a brand new HomePod from the original
Here are the main differences between the brand new 2023 HomePod and the original released back in
Size and weight
Original HomePod:
- 6.8 inches high (172mm)
- Width 5.6″(142mm)
- Weight 5.5 pounds (2.5 kg)
HomePod (2nd generation):
- 6.6 inches high (168mm)
- Width 5.6″(142mm)
- Weight 5.16 lbs (2.3 kg)
Colors
Original HomePod:
- space gray
- White
HomePod (2nd generation):
- Midnight
- White
Audio technology
Original HomePod:
- High-travel woofer with custom amplifier
- An array of seven horn tweeters, each with its own amplifier
- Array of six microphones for Siri in the far field
- Built-in low-frequency calibration microphone for automatic bass correction
- Direct and ambient sound beamforming
- Computational audio for real-time audio tuning
HomePod (2nd generation):
- 4″high-throw woofer
- An array of five horn tweeters, each with its own neodymium magnet
- Built-in low-frequency calibration microphone for automatic bass correction
- Advanced computational sound with system recognition for real-time tuning
- Room sounding
- Spatial sound with Dolby Atmos for music and video
- Four-mic design for Siri in the far field
Both models:
- Multi-room audio with AirPlay
- Stereo pair capability
Sound sources
Original HomePod:
- Radio stations from TuneIn, iHeartRadio and Radio.com
- AirPlay other content to HomePod from iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Apple TV, or Mac
HomePod (2nd generation):
- Radio stations from TuneIn, iHeartRadio and Audacy
- Updated ambient sounds
- AirPlay other content to HomePod from iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, or Mac
Both models:
- Apple Music
- Music purchases in iTunes
- iCloud Music Library with an Apple Music or iTunes Match subscription
- Third party music services
- Apple Music Radio or releases on demand
- Apple Podcasts
- News briefings
Touch control
Both models:
- Click to play/pause
- Press and hold for Siri
- Press and hold + or – to increase or decrease the volume
- Triple tap to go back
- Double click to skip
Sensors
HomePod (2nd generation):
- Sound recognition
- Temperature and Humidity
- Accelerometer
Chips
Original HomePod:
- Apple A8 chip
HomePod (2nd generation):
- Apple S7 chip
- U1 chip
Wireless connection
Original HomePod:
- WiFi 802.11ac with MIMO
- Direct guest access
HomePod (2nd generation):
- 802.11n WiFi
- Peer-to-peer discovery for easy guest access
- A thread
- Ultra-wideband access for device proximity
Both models:
- bluetooth 5.0
Conclusion
HomePod (2nd generation) is the answer for those who find HomePod mini too small. It’s a nice upgrade over the original HomePod, and for $299 you seem to get some decent features that set Apple’s smart speaker apart from the competition.
Does the HomePod (2nd generation) look appetizing? Let us know in the comments section below.