News that Apple's smart home speaker HomePod has been shipping soon
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[NetEase Smart News, January 22] Apple's HomePod smart speaker might be available in the coming weeks, with reports indicating that the first batch has already left the factory.
Originally scheduled for a December release to capitalize on the holiday shopping season, Apple pushed back the launch at the last minute, citing the need for "a little more time" before it was ready. However, it seems likely that the device will soon hit the market—especially in the U.S., U.K., and Australia.
This means that HomePod will finally enter the smart speaker market three years after Amazon’s Echo series, which pioneered the space and still holds a strong position. Google Home launched even later than Echo. Apple now faces competition from Samsung, Sonos, and others.
Apple needs to enter this space because smart speakers are becoming essential for music streaming, smart home integration, and everyday tasks like shopping or gaming. Many users now spend less time on their phones after getting a smart speaker. HomePod could help boost Apple Music sales and keep Siri relevant. While it won’t replace the iPhone, Apple must perform well here.
For most companies, entering a market late is a challenge, but this is a familiar strategy for Apple: let others build the market, learn from their mistakes, and then launch a premium product that solves the problems they couldn’t.
The iPhone wasn’t the first smartphone, but Apple successfully combined elements of other devices into a seamless product. The iPad wasn’t the first tablet, and many companies tried smartwatches before Apple. This pattern suggests Apple may do the same with HomePod.
But will this time be different?
The difference this time is that while Apple has solved problems others faced with smartphones, tablets, and watches, its smart speaker doesn’t offer as clear an advantage. Today’s smart speakers already work pretty well: you speak, and they usually respond correctly.
Speech recognition and natural language processing can still improve, but these are gradual advancements. There doesn’t seem to be a breakthrough technology that would allow Apple to leap ahead of competitors. That said, when the iPhone came out, most people were happy using physical keypads. Maybe Apple will surprise us again—but so far, we haven’t seen the same level of innovation from HomePod as we did with the original iPhone.
Another critical point is that Apple’s competitors have learned from past mistakes. A major factor behind the success of the iPhone and iPad was the unexpected growth of the software ecosystem. This time, Amazon has already allowed developers to create “skills†for Alexa, giving it a head start. While HomePod will integrate with Apple’s HomeKit, Amazon and Google have already opened their platforms to third-party hardware, allowing broader compatibility with smart home devices.
Apple may hope that HomePod appeals to audiophiles. It uses the same chips as the iPhone, along with real-time acoustic modeling, audio beamforming, and multi-channel echo cancellation. But this high-quality sound comes at a steep price: $349. Google’s Home Max costs $399, making HomePod not the most expensive. Even two HomePods together cost nearly $700, which is a lot for most people to afford right away.
This price also makes it difficult to equip an entire home with smart speakers. Amazon’s Echo Dot starts at just $50, often with discounts. HomePod feels more like a high-end audio system than a low-cost IoT device.
Privacy Focus
In my view, Apple’s best chance to lead in the smart speaker market lies in its emphasis on privacy. Apple can do this because of its higher profit margins and its focus on user experience. Competitors like Amazon and Google rely on user interactions with low-cost devices to drive sales or ads. Privacy has been a key selling point for Apple, especially with features like end-to-end encryption in iMessage.
Smart speakers have always-on microphones, and many people are concerned about what data these devices collect. Apple has a large base of iPhone and iPad users, and the lower prices of competitors may actually work in Apple’s favor. Consumers might prefer to invest in a product they trust over a cheaper alternative.
Apple faces a tough battle in this market, as established players offer more affordable options. However, if enough people believe Apple can better protect their privacy, it could capture the high-end, privacy-focused segment of the smart home market. Apple may have arrived late, but it still has a chance to make an impact.
(Source: ZDNet | Compilation: Netease Intelligence | Reporter: Li Qing)
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