Apple Homepod 2nd Gen

The second generation of Apple Homepod smart speakers debuted in 2023. Externally, the speaker is similar to its predecessor: cylindrical shape, fabric upholstery of the speaker and a touch control panel on top, complemented by LED backlighting with various effects. But the main changes lie inside. So, the number of speakers has been reduced: now it is a 4-inch woofer and 5 neodymium tweeters.

But at the same time, the manufacturer promises the best quality sound. Inside, a more powerful S7 chip and a microphone are installed to correct the sound depending on the environment and placement of the device. Support for Dolby Atmos and Spatial Audio is announced, and two identical speakers can also be combined into a stereo pair. For wireless connection to a smartphone or other gadget, WiFi and Bluetooth 5.0 are used.

To communicate with the Siri voice assistant, Apple Homepod 2nd Gen is equipped with four microphones. Siri will tell you about the weather, change the song, and remind you of an event. The speaker recognizes up to six voices, so each family member can create their own playlists, reminders, etc. Thanks to support for the Matter standard and the Thread protocol, the device can become the center of a smart home and control other equipment: turn on the kettle, adjust the brightness of the lighting, change the temperature on the air conditioner, etc. Moreover, the device recognizes sounds - for example, a fire alarm - and sends a notification to user's smartphone. And thanks to new sensors, Siri will be able to check the temperature and humidity in the room. The smart speaker is fully integrated with the Apple ecosystem and works only with devices from this company.