Apple · Updated June 2026
Apple HomePod (2nd Gen): price, specs & release date
Apple HomePod (2nd Gen), released 2023-02. Every price and spec below is linked to its source and dated — no guesses.
Source: support.apple.com verified ✓ corroborated verify in ledger
- Best for Rich, detailed, energetic sound quality for the price; Strong, weighty bass from a compact enclosure.
- Skip if Apple-only ecosystem lock-in; unusable without an iPhone is a dealbreaker.
Is the Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) a good buy?
At $299, the Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) is #9 cheapest of the 12 smart speakers we track, where the median is $160.
Evidence of Record
Our dataNo independent lab has measured this product yet. 3 outlets have it on record by mention only, with no hands-on measurements published to weigh its claims against — a gap in the evidence, not a verdict on the product.
Review consensus · sourced & dated
What reviewers say about the 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.
Based on 3 reviews · 2023-01-31–2023-03-16
Tested by What Hi-Fi, TechRadar, SoundGuys
Consistently praised
- Rich, detailed, energetic sound quality for the price · 3 sources
- Strong, weighty bass from a compact enclosure · 3 sources
- Convincing Dolby Atmos / spatial audio, especially as a stereo pair · 2 sources
- Solid, premium build quality · 2 sources
Commonly flagged
- Apple-only ecosystem lock-in; unusable without an iPhone · 3 sources
- High price versus Sonos and Amazon rivals · 3 sources
- Weak, limited Siri assistant · 2 sources
- Minimal upgrade over the previous HomePod / HomePod mini · 2 sources
Where reviewers disagree TechRadar found the 2nd Gen noticeably quieter than the original HomePod (about 50% volume equalled the original at roughly 33%), whereas SoundGuys listed 'Loud' as a pro and said it gets plenty loud for most rooms. Testers also split on Sonos: What Hi-Fi says the pricier Era 300 clearly out-performs the HomePod, while TechRadar rates the HomePod 2 a clear step up on the Sonos One.
The sources (3)
the new HomePod sounds even better than its predecessor, and that makes it one of the very best wireless speakers you can buy
The bassline, meanwhile, has vastly more weight and presence than a speaker this size has any right to produce, yet it's never overbearing or flabby.
it is surprising how small-scaled it sounds next to the more open and spacious Era 300
It's energetic, bursting with detail, dynamic, and underlined with natural and resonant bass.
the HomePod 2 at about 50% of maximum volume was equivalent to the original being at roughly 33%
Siri is not as clever or flexible as Alexa or Google Assistant, and it's been stagnating for a while.
The woofer adds a really noticeable bassy rumble, and instrumental and vocal parts of songs come through clearly.
At high volumes, some subtler instrumentals and vocals can get a little lost in busier tracks.
this is $200 USD more for a louder version of the same thing.
Specifications
| Price (US) | $299 US MSRP at launch (February 3, 2023) per Apple Store. $299 confirmed as current price as of June 2026. |
|---|---|
| Brand | Apple |
| Released | 2023-02 |
| Assistant | Siri |
| Drivers | 1x 4-inch high-excursion woofer, 5x horn-loaded tweeters (each with neodymium magnet) |
| Smart home hub | HomeKit hub, Matter, Thread Border Router |
| Audio calibration | Yes |
| Aux or line out | — |
| Dimensions (in) | 5.6 x 6.6 |
| Multiroom | Yes |
Source: support.apple.com (verified 2026-06-15) · corroborated by digitaltrends.com. Dimensions (5.6 in wide x 6.6 in high / 142 x 168 mm), weight 5.16 lbs (2.3 kg), 4-inch high-excursion woofer + 5 horn-loaded tweeters each with neodymium magnet, WiFi 802.11n (Wi-Fi 4) MIMO, Bluetooth 5.0, Thread, Ultra Wideband chip, HomeKit hub, Matter support, temperature and humidity sensor, accelerometer, 4-microphone array for far-field Siri, S7 chip, $299 US price confirmed directly from Apple Support spec page (support.apple.com/en-us/111843). Spatial Audio and room acoustic sensing = audio_calibration true. No 3.5mm jack. Release February 3, 2023. Pairs as stereo pair with a second HomePod.
Is the Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) worth it vs cheaper smart speakers?
Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) against its closest cheaper and pricier smart speakers on the specs that matter — every value sourced. See all 12 ranked
| Product | Price | Assistant | Drivers | Smart home hub | Audio calibration | Dimensions (in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) this | $299 | Siri | 1x 4-inch high-excursion woofer, 5x horn-loaded tweeters (each with neodymium magnet) | HomeKit hub, Matter, Thread Border Router | Yes | 5.6 x 6.6 |
| Sonos Era 100 | $249 | Amazon Alexa, Sonos Voice Control | 2x angled tweeters, 1x midwoofer (3 class-D amplifiers) | — | Yes | 7.18 x 4.72 x 5.14 |
| Bose Home Speaker 500 | $379 | Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant | 2x 2.5-inch full-range drivers (opposing sides, stereo) | — | No | 8.0 x 6.7 x 4.3 |
Frequently asked questions
What do reviewers say about the 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. 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; Solid, premium build quality. Flagged: Apple-only ecosystem lock-in; unusable without an iPhone; High price versus Sonos and Amazon rivals; Weak, limited Siri assistant; Minimal upgrade over the previous HomePod / HomePod mini. (From 3 tester reviews.)
How much does the Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) cost?
The Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) has a US price of $299 (US MSRP at launch (February 3, 2023) per Apple Store. $299 confirmed as current price as of June 2026.), as of 2026-06-15.
How does the Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) compare on price?
At $299, the Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) is #9 cheapest of the 12 smart speakers we track, where the median is $160.
When was the Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) released?
The Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) was released 2023-02.
What are the Apple HomePod (2nd Gen)'s key specs?
Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) (Apple): assistant Siri, drivers 1x 4-inch high-excursion woofer, 5x horn-loaded tweeters (each with neodymium magnet), smart home hub HomeKit hub, Matter, Thread Border Router, audio calibration Yes, dimensions in 5.6 x 6.6. Full sourced spec sheet verified 2026-06-15.
Price of record: $299 at support.apple.com, 2026-06-27. Other retailers may be lower — check the current price:
See Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) on Amazon As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.Similar smart speakers
Nearest in price — swipe to browse. Every pick sourced and dated.
All smart speakers ranked · Open data & methodology · Queryable via MCP
Compare with
Head-to-head
Cheaper smart speakers
- Sonos Era 100 $249
- Amazon Echo Studio (2nd Gen) $219.99
- Google Nest Audio $99.99
- Amazon Echo (4th Gen) $99
- Apple HomePod mini $99
- Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen) $49.99
Step up
- Bose Home Speaker 500 $379
- Sonos Era 300 $449
- Sonos Move 2 $499
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