Matthew Panzarino at TechCrunch reports that the HomePod is joining the great iPod Hi-Fi in the sky:
After 4 years on the market, Apple has discontinued its original HomePod. It says that it will continue to produce and focus on the HomePod mini, introduced last year. The larger HomePod offered a beefier sound space but the mini has been very well received and clearly accomplishes many of the duties that the larger version was tasked with. The sound is super solid (especially for the size) and it offers access to Siri, Apple’s assistant feature.
Here is what Apple told Panzer:
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.
We have two; a gray one in the kitchen and a white one in my studio. I picked up a HomePod mini for our bedroom, and it sounds great for its size, but it doesn’t match the fullness the original HomePod consistently delivered.
…but it was just too expensive, even after getting a permanent price cut to $299 back in April 2019. I’m not shocked at the news that it’s going away, but it is a bit of a bummer, even for a product that wasn’t quite right for its category.
Existing HomePods are still for sale on Apple’s website while supplies last, as long as you want one in white. Not that the future holds any promises, as Myke Hurley points out:
I try to use a HomePod pair with my Apple TV. When it works, it sounds fantastic. However most days it doesn’t. I get all kinds of failures — with content pausing, or one of the HomePods failing.
I had hoped that this functionality would be improved in the future. Now I’m not so hopeful.
I guess it’s time to look in to other options for better TV audio.