A Low-Cost HomePod
Rumors about a new HomePod have been circling for a while now. Because the smart speaker market is a sweltering space, but the original HomePod can’t really compete in it – it’s too expensive at $300, too limited, and now too old. It’s certainly time for a new model, if Apple wants to keep the name alive.
Today’s smart speakers are selling for $50 to $100. Add a touchscreen, and prices can increase up to around $200 (the Google Nest Hub Max maxes out at $230). This gives Apple quite a range to work with. We think two scenarios are likely. First, Apple could release a HomePod mini model, much like the Nest mini or Echo Dot, for a vastly reduced price around $50. This would solve many of the issues of the original HomePod, although it wouldn’t be able to provide the room-filling sound that Apple really wanted for the first model.
The other option is to create a smart display like the Echo Show 2 or Nest Hub, which can act as a photo frame, a mini TV for watching shows on Apple TV+, a Safari web browser, and much more. (Imagine an iPad with far better speakers and microphones.) Bump the price to around $100 to $150, and Apple would have a very competitive product in a market that’s ready for it.