HomePod 2 test: successful return for the premium Apple speaker?

Six years after the release of the first HomePod, and two years after its abandonment, Apple surprised everyone in early 2023 by unveiling the HomePod 2.

With this new generation with an identical design to the first, Apple promises exceptional audio quality as well as a unique experience in the Pommé ecosystem.

For several weeks we therefore used two HomePod 2 in a room of about 40 square meters. So what is the HomePod 2 worth? Has Apple learned from its past mistakes? Answer in our comprehensive test.

HomePod 2 test: what we liked

Its elegant (but unchanged) design

Six years after the first HomePod (and after stopping its marketing), Apple is therefore launching a new generation that is aesthetically almost identical.

Still available in black (deeper than the 1st generation) or white, the HomePod 2 displays within a few millimeters of the same dimensions as its predecessor. Placed side by side, very clever the one who will be able to distinguish the first generation from the second.

In six years, Apple has therefore changed the base, which is flat and not hollow, as well as the screen on the top of the speaker, which is also flatter and more extensive. And that’s all. Don’t expect a more advanced system, the screen still only shows a small light when you ask Siri (which hasn’t evolved either and remains light years away from competing assistants).

Too bad, because by integrating an ambient temperature sensorApple could have given us the possibility of displaying this information on the screen or accessing home automation settings (intensity or color of a light, pausing music, etc.).

Apart from these few changes and the choice of a removable cable, the HomePod 2 is in all respects identical to its predecessor. It will therefore invite itself in any furniture and will be able to show itself as discreet as it is elegant. Yes the design characterized by this fabric mesh remains effective, but we would still have liked a little more after six long years and a significant price increase.

Its audio quality

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First audio product stamped Apple, the first HomePod of the name had already impressed the experts. Despite some flaws, the speaker stood out for its audio quality, while most competitors relied more on their voice assistants or home automation.

In six years, Apple revolutionized consumer audio with its AirPods and then its AirPods Pro. Six years that will have allowed engineers to refine their sound processing algorithms to make the AirPods Pro 2 a reference in the world of noise reduction headphones.

Has the HomePod 2 inherited this know-how? The answer is yes. If it loses a few components in its design (five tweeters against seven and four microphones instead of six), the S7 chip associated with the algorithmic formula clashes. Apart from more “bassy” titles, all sounds coming out of the HomePod 2 are significantly more accurate than those coming out of the first HomePod.

The latter gave pride of place to bass sounds, which tends to flatter the ear for listening to rap and R&B. A trend probably inherited from Beats, which he had bought a little earlier. If these styles of music have been the most listened to by the general public in recent years, Apple had a duty to satisfy the majority of consumers, a credo for the company.

Mission accomplished: whether you listen to rock, jazz, classical music or even pop, the instrumental part is more readable, clearer. This better dynamic is accompanied by the passage of a highlighting of the mediums (like the voices for example) which will not displease lovers of podcasts or radio.

As long as your budget allows, you can also use two HomePod 2s for stereo listening. The magic of the Apple ecosystem also makes it possible to create scenarios to play music on other brand speakers such as HomePod mini for example.

The HomePod 2 in Home Cinema mode, what does it do?

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Provided you have an Apple TV, two HomePod 2 can be transformed either into a home cinema if your living room is not very spacious, or into good replacements for a sound bar.

Thanks to eARC technology integrated into the TV box, it is possible to broadcast the sound of your TV (coming from any source, including your operator box, your console or even DTT) on the two HomePods, all in stereo. Technically it works flawlessly with no latency and amazing audio quality. Only regret: the absence of Dolby 7.1 or Dolby Atmos emulation.

As attractive as it is, this configuration has a cost: two HomePod 2 cost 700 euros and the Apple TV 169 euros, for a total of almost 900 euros. For this price you can afford a HomePod 2 for listening to music and a good quality sound bar for the TV experience.

HomePod 2 test: what we liked less

Its limited compatibility

It’s a bit the lot of all Apple devices: if they communicate well with each other, they like to stand apart. So if you’re not part of this big family, you won’t be able to do anything with the HomePod 2.

Symbol of this limitation, an iPhone is required to set up the HomePod 2 on first use. If you want to take advantage of Apple’s most advanced speaker, you will have to pay a few hundred euros more.

Assuming you own a Pommé product, you will have to deal with other incompatibilities. And what better for an audio product than to be limited to two streaming platforms: Apple Music and Deezer? Spotify may be the most used service in the world, but Apple has seen fit not to integrate compatibility.

To listen to your Spotify music on the HomePod 2, you will have to go through the good old AirPlay method directly from the Spotify app. We have known better in terms of user experience, a shame for Apple.

Its price is way too high

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Although this new generation brings its share of improvements, it is still based on Apple’s achievements. Also, its price of 349 euros seems very excessive to us given its weaknesses.

More than weaknesses, we will talk about limitations. Technical first since Apple has designed its speaker with fewer components than the previous generation. Luckily the algorithms make the overall audio experience more enjoyable. But still: a higher price with fewer components or recycled elements from the first generation. We tick.

As we explained previously, the biggest limitation of the HomePod 2 remains its limited compatibility. If you don’t have another Pommé product or don’t subscribe to an Apple service, the HomePod 2 won’t do you any good.

Finally, the price of the HomePod 2 could be justified for consumers already married to the company (or at least well committed). Although, even for them, the pill is hard to pass.

Our opinion on the HomePod 2

The HomePod 2 is one of those products that we like to test, because technically very attractive. If its design does not change much, the HomePod 2 remains elegant and will invite itself into any furniture. Apple responds where it was expected at the turn: the audio experience. To date, it is difficult to find such a compact speaker at this price with such audio quality. Here again, mission accomplished for Apple, which has taken advantage of these six years of audio work.

Still, the HomePod 2 costs 349 euros, a higher price than the previous generation. An exorbitant price with regard to minor developments on the one hand, but above all technical limitations on the other. The HomePod 2 will only be suitable for users of Apple devices, already equipped with compatible connected objects. For others, the enclosure is unusable.

For some reason that escapes us, Apple reproduces the same errors as with the first generation. It is therefore difficult to predict a less fatal fate for the HomePod 2.