Over the weekend, Techcrunch reported that Apple had discontinued the original HomePod. The company will now focus on the more recently released mini version of its smart speaker.
Apple Focusing on HomePod Mini
In statement confirming the move, Apple said:
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. We are discontinuing the original HomePod, it will continue to be available while supplies last through the Apple Online Store, Apple Retail Stores, and Apple Authorized Resellers. Apple will provide HomePod customers with software updates and service and support through Apple Care.
Earlier in the week, French site Consomac reported that the Space Gray version of the original was not in stock in the U.S., and there was an eight to ten week wait for delivery. (White models were still available for next day delivery.) The move came just days after Apple discontinued the iMac Pro.
There are different expectations for the life-span of audio equipment vs. that of a computer or phone. There are plenty of audio amps and speakers that are in use today that are 40+ years old and sound as good today as they did when they were new. At issue here is trusting Apple to support an audio product longer than a computer’s life span. So, if you want product longevity purchase Sonos, don’t buy Apple as the trust of product longevity and support has been broken.
Apple SUPPORT for the HomePod isn’t ending. they just aren’t making them any more.
And FWIW there was a story last summer that Apple was going to do just that: Purchase Sonos, which would explain why they are discontinuing the HomePod.
Continued support is key. The fear is that a few iOS versions later, Apple will just pretend that it never existed. At this point the HomePod will become a door stop as there is no way to to connect to a WiFi network and stream to it without Apple software. This is going to be a cautionary tale for the AirPods Max headphones. Does anyone want to spend $500+ on headphones that can be discontinued in the same manner. The length of the continued support is just unknown.
I see your point, but the same could be said of a regular Bluetooth speaker. In a few years everything would be requiring a later version and your old BT1.0 set just can’t talk to anything.
“There are plenty of audio amps and speakers that are in use today that are 40+ years old and sound as good today as they did when they were new.”
This fellow is playing digital music through his 1949 era radio:
https://www.bbc.com/news/business-56252465