Apple
Apple HomePod (2nd Gen)
$299Cheaper
Released 2023-02
Best Smart Speakers · head-to-head
Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) vs Bose Home Speaker 500
A sourced, side-by-side comparison. Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) is cheaper at $299. Every spec and price links to its source.
Bose
Bose Home Speaker 500
$379
Released 2018-09
Which is better: the Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) or Bose Home Speaker 500?
On the specs we track, they're closely matched. The Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) is the cheaper at $299.
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Full spec sheet
✓ marks the stronger figure where "more" — or "less", for price and weight — is unambiguously better.
| Spec | Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) | Bose Home Speaker 500 |
|---|---|---|
| US price | $299 | $379 |
| Brand | Apple | Bose |
| Released | 2023-02 | 2018-09 |
| Assistant | Siri | Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant |
| Drivers | 1x 4-inch high-excursion woofer, 5x horn-loaded tweeters (each with neodymium magnet) | 2x 2.5-inch full-range drivers (opposing sides, stereo) |
| Smart home hub | HomeKit hub, Matter, Thread Border Router | — |
| Audio calibration | Yes | No |
| Aux or line out | — | 3.5mm aux line-in |
| Dimensions (in) | 5.6 x 6.6 | 8.0 x 6.7 x 4.3 |
| Multiroom | Yes | Yes |
| Release | 2023-02 | 2018-09 |
Sources — Apple HomePod (2nd Gen): support.apple.com (verified 2026-06-15). Bose Home Speaker 500: soundguys.com (verified 2026-06-15).
What's the difference between the Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) and Bose Home Speaker 500?
Where the two actually differ on the specs we track (4 of 7). Matching specs are omitted.
- Assistant: Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) Siri vs Bose Home Speaker 500 Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant
- Drivers: Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) 1x 4-inch high-excursion woofer, 5x horn-loaded tweeters (each with neodymium magnet) vs Bose Home Speaker 500 2x 2.5-inch full-range drivers (opposing sides, stereo)
- Audio calibration: Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) true vs Bose Home Speaker 500 false
- Dimensions (in): Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) 5.6 x 6.6 vs Bose Home Speaker 500 8.0 x 6.7 x 4.3
What reviewers say
Sourced tester consensus for each — the "what people who used it think" layer, not just specs.
Apple HomePod (2nd Gen)
Three whitelisted testers (What Hi-Fi, TechRadar, SoundGuys) reviewed the HomePod 2 hands-on but published only qualitative impressions, so no lab dB or frequency numbers exist here. All praise rich, detailed sound and strong bass for the size, while flagging Apple-only lock-in, a weak Siri, and a high price. (3 sourced reviews.)
Praised: Rich, detailed, energetic sound quality for the price; Strong, weighty bass from a compact enclosure; Convincing Dolby Atmos / spatial audio, especially as a stereo pair.
Flagged: Apple-only ecosystem lock-in; unusable without an iPhone; High price versus Sonos and Amazon rivals; Weak, limited Siri assistant.
Bose Home Speaker 500
No sourced tester review yet.