Apple Resurrects the Full-Size HomePod

The new version of the HomePod adds room-sensing technology that recognizes sound reflections from surfaces nearby. That helps the speaker determine whether it is close to a wall or is in an open room, which allows it to adapt the sound to fit its surroundings. 

The HomePod is also equipped with new sensors, allowing it to listen for smoke and carbon-monoxide alarms and send notifications to an iPhone. It can sense temperatures and close blinds when a certain temperature is reached in a room.

The upgraded HomePod also supports a tech standard called Matter. It allows smart-home gadgets like energy-saving thermostats and app-controlled lights to be compatible with devices made by Apple,

Amazon.com Inc.,

and other companies that have signed on to the standard. 

The Cupertino, Calif., company began selling the voice-activated speaker in 2018, following in the footsteps of Amazon.com Inc.’s Echo and

Alphabet Inc.’s

Google Home. The HomePod was originally priced at $349, compared with $100 for Echo and $129 for Google Home. But the higher price for the HomePod turned off some consumers. The company cut the price by $50 after it initially sold poorly. 

In 2020, Apple began selling a $99 version called the HomePod Mini. One year later, Apple discontinued the full-size version of the HomePod to focus on the HomePod Mini. 

“With the popularity of HomePod mini, we’ve seen growing interest in even more powerful acoustics achievable in a larger HomePod,”

Greg Joswiak,

Apple’s senior vice president of worldwide marketing, said in a statement. 

The iPhone maker on Tuesday also unveiled its latest iteration of the MacBook Pro. The new versions will come with Apple’s in-house designed chips called the M2 Pro and M2 Max, which the company says will deliver more efficient performance and longer battery life.

Write to Joseph De Avila at [email protected]