HomePod
HomePod. When it first debuted, it was pretty much the best-sounding smart speaker on the market. In the few years since its release, however, Apple’s competitors in the smart speaker space have caught up. Options like Google Home Max and Amazon Echo Plus pump out similar sound, and are actually cheaper than HomePod.
We haven’t heard much about a potential HomePod refresh in some time, but past rumors have suggested that Apple could debut a new lower-cost model. Whether or not HomePod is getting refreshed this year, it’s getting harder to justify spending $299 on a device that has cheaper (and arguably better) rivals available.