Apple has put the original HomePod to bed – so does that mean there’s a new smart speaker on the way?
The HomePod was the first smart speaker to be released by Apple – and now it’s been confirmed that the original Apple HomePod is being discontinued, with the company focussing on the smaller, cheaper Apple HomePod mini. After the space gray HomePod was noted to be out of stock in the US, Apple confirmed to TechCrunch that the entire line was being discontinued, and once stocks have been exhausted, you won’t be able to buy the wireless speaker. In a statement, Apple said that « HomePod Mini has been a hit since its debut last fall, offering customers amazing sound, an intelligent assistant, and smart home control all for just $99. We are focusing our efforts on HomePod Mini. » The news may come as something of a surprise to anyone looking forward to testing the latest features to come to the Apple HomePod. While the speaker was first released in 2018, it was recently given a nice boost with Dolby Atmos support, which means it can be used for spatial audio in a home cinema setup. The original HomePod was also recently given a HomePod mini feature called Intercom, which allows the Apple HomePod to double up as an intercom system for your home, letting you send voice messages to other HomePods, iPhones, iPads, CarPlay, and even AirPods. While Apple has confirmed that the original HomePod will continue to receive software updates (though for how long is unknown), it sounds as though the company is putting all its energy into the HomePod mini. But why would Apple choose to discontinue its original smart speaker now, so soon after its been upgraded with some exciting new features? Upon hearing that the HomePod is to be discontinued, one of our first thoughts was that Apple could be poised to release a new smart speaker for 2021.
