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The latest is on sale for $285 at B&H Photo, which is $14 less than buying from Apple directly. This isn't the we've seen, and Apple previously the device with a $50 gift card during Black Friday. But deals of any kind on the home speaker have been uncommon since it arrived in early 2023, so this modest drop still represents the lowest price we've seen in the last few months. The discount applies to both the black and white versions of the speaker.
We gave the second-generation HomePod a in our review last year. It'll make the most sense if you're a particularly dedicated Apple user who prioritizes audio quality. It still works easily with other Apple devices and services, from to to , and we generally find it to sound richer and clearer than from Amazon and Google. As a smart home device, it's compatible with and Thread on top of Apple's own HomeKit protocol, so you can use it to control a growing range of security cameras, thermostats, plugs and other smart home accessories. It also has built-in temperature and humidity sensors, and its included mics do well to pick out your voice through noise.
To be clear, this is still a pricey and relatively niche device. Speakers like the Sonos Five and cost more but offer louder and more dynamic sound quality, while the may be a better value if you want to conserve a little more cash. Apple's own has nearly all of the same smart home features if that's your main concern, while Google Assistant and Alexa users should still look to or an Amazon Echo device. The HomePod has its own issues, too: Siri isn't the most capable voice assistant, there's no Bluetooth audio, you can't customize its EQ and you need to control Spotify via voice. Rumors of a have also floated around over the past year. All that said, if you're all-in on Apple, this is a decent chance to save on the company's highest-end home speaker.
Follow on Twitter and for the latest tech deals and buying advice.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at
Console Bang News!
We gave the second-generation HomePod a in our review last year. It'll make the most sense if you're a particularly dedicated Apple user who prioritizes audio quality. It still works easily with other Apple devices and services, from to to , and we generally find it to sound richer and clearer than from Amazon and Google. As a smart home device, it's compatible with and Thread on top of Apple's own HomeKit protocol, so you can use it to control a growing range of security cameras, thermostats, plugs and other smart home accessories. It also has built-in temperature and humidity sensors, and its included mics do well to pick out your voice through noise.
To be clear, this is still a pricey and relatively niche device. Speakers like the Sonos Five and cost more but offer louder and more dynamic sound quality, while the may be a better value if you want to conserve a little more cash. Apple's own has nearly all of the same smart home features if that's your main concern, while Google Assistant and Alexa users should still look to or an Amazon Echo device. The HomePod has its own issues, too: Siri isn't the most capable voice assistant, there's no Bluetooth audio, you can't customize its EQ and you need to control Spotify via voice. Rumors of a have also floated around over the past year. All that said, if you're all-in on Apple, this is a decent chance to save on the company's highest-end home speaker.
Follow on Twitter and for the latest tech deals and buying advice.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at
Console Bang News!