7 HomePod
Originally slated for a December 2017 launch, Apple unexpectedly pushed back the HomePod’s drop date to “early 2018.” That means the company’s first smart speaker will launch relatively soon — and is basically a sure bet for 2018’s lineup.
But, on that note, the HomePod’s delay brings the HomePod 2 into question. With the first HomePod being an unexpected 2018 device, Apple could be pushing back any substantial upgrades to the smart speaker system to early 2019. Then again, if Apple announces a refresh in June, then a late 2018 release date is certainly still possible — even with the slightly staggered release this year.