Comparing the Original and New HomePod 2 – Which One to Buy?


New Apple HomePod

Apple reintroduced its amazing HomePod and brought us the new Apple HomePod 2, which costs just $299. The original model was priced at $349 but dropped to $299 after some time. Its price is still dropping on online stores such as eBay, and it’s expected to drop even further.

Therefore, if someone is interested in buying the older variant, go ahead. However, we have something new in the market: the new Apple HomePod 2. This guide is about helping you decide whether to buy the Apple HomePod 2 or stick with the former one. The latest HomePod 2 comes with a slight improvement rather than a whole bunch of features.

New Apple HomePod vs. Original HomePod:

New HomePod

Original HomePod

  • Refined design with acoustically transparent mesh fabric
  • Design with acoustically transparent mesh fabric
  • Larger Backlit touch surface, just like the HomePod mini
  • Backlit touch surface
  • S7 chip
  • A8 chip
  • U1 Ultra-wideband chip
  • Five horn-loaded tweeters
  • Seven horn-loaded tweeters
  • Four far-field beamforming microphones
  • Six Far-field beamforming microphones
  • 5.6 inches height
  • 6.6 inches height
  • 5.16 pounds
  • 5.5 pounds weight
  • Removable power cable
  • Fixed power cable
  • Wi-Fi 4 connectivity
  • Wi-Fi 5 connectivity
  • Thread support
  • Temperature and humidity sensor
  • Available in white and midnight color
  • Available in white and space gray color.

If you already have the original HomePod, we suggest you wait for the next version. The reason is that the new HomePod 2 has so little to offer. The original Apple HomePod offers more features and better microphones. On the connectivity front, the former comes with Wi-Fi5 connectivity, while the new one offers Wi-Fi 4 connectivity.

It is rather a backstep than an improvement. As a whole, there is not much to offer in the new device. It’d be wise to wait for future models with more useful features. The only thing that might fascinate you is the U1 Ultra wideband chip.

Why Shouldn’t You Buy The New Apple HomePod 2?

Unfortunately, the new Apple HomePod does not support stereo pair capability. However, you can pair two HomePods or two HomePod minis as stereo speakers. Moreover, you cannot pair a HomePod with a HomePod mini.

Additionally, the former Apple HomePod has better performance than the new one. Without having the main features, it is not good to opt for the new version. In short, the latest model has only three upgrades: color, design, and U1 chip. There is nothing else to be proud of.

In a nutshell, you will have to pay more for a few. A wise decision is not to buy the new Apple HomePod 2 if you only want something new in your home. Or if you have extra money to spend. Everything aside, the Original HomePod is a good thing to bet on.

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