Comparison of the second generation HomePod with the original

On Wednesday, Apple unveiled an all-new second-generation 2023 HomePod that is similar in size and weight to the original HomePod. But don’t be fooled, there are key differences between the models.

If you are wondering what is the difference between this new model and the original, then you have come to the right place. In this part, iDB will take the opportunity to compare its hardware and specifications.

Differences of a brand new HomePod from the original

Here are the main differences between the brand new 2023 HomePod and the original released back in

Size and weight

Original HomePod:

• 6.8 inches high (172mm)
• Width 5.6″(142mm)
• Weight 5.5 pounds (2.5 kg)

HomePod (2nd generation):

• 6.6 inches high (168mm)
• Width 5.6″(142mm)
• Weight 5.16 lbs (2.3 kg)

Colors

Original HomePod:

• space gray
• White

HomePod (2nd generation):

• Midnight
• White

Audio technology

Original HomePod:

• High-travel woofer with custom amplifier
• An array of seven horn tweeters, each with its own amplifier
• Array of six microphones for Siri in the far field
• Built-in low-frequency calibration microphone for automatic bass correction
• Direct and ambient sound beamforming
• Computational audio for real-time audio tuning

HomePod (2nd generation):

• 4″high-throw woofer
• An array of five horn tweeters, each with its own neodymium magnet
• Built-in low-frequency calibration microphone for automatic bass correction
• Advanced computational sound with system recognition for real-time tuning
• Room sounding
• Spatial sound with Dolby Atmos for music and video
• Four-mic design for Siri in the far field

Both models:

• Multi-room audio with AirPlay
• Stereo pair capability

Sound sources

Original HomePod:

• Radio stations from TuneIn, iHeartRadio and Radio.com
• AirPlay other content to HomePod from iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Apple TV, or Mac

HomePod (2nd generation):

• Radio stations from TuneIn, iHeartRadio and Audacy
• Updated ambient sounds
• AirPlay other content to HomePod from iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, or Mac

Both models:

• Apple Music
• Music purchases in iTunes
• iCloud Music Library with an Apple Music or iTunes Match subscription
• Third party music services
• Apple Music Radio or releases on demand
• Apple Podcasts
• News briefings

Touch control

Both models:

• Click to play/pause
• Press and hold for Siri
• Press and hold + or – to increase or decrease the volume
• Triple tap to go back
• Double click to skip

Sensors

HomePod (2nd generation):

• Sound recognition
• Temperature and Humidity
• Accelerometer

Chips

Original HomePod:

• Apple A8 chip

HomePod (2nd generation):

• Apple S7 chip
• U1 chip

Wireless connection

Original HomePod:

• WiFi 802.11ac with MIMO
• Direct guest access

HomePod (2nd generation):

• 802.11n WiFi
• Peer-to-peer discovery for easy guest access
• A thread
• Ultra-wideband access for device proximity

Both models:

• bluetooth 5.0

Conclusion

HomePod (2nd ^generation) is the answer for those who find HomePod mini too small. It’s a nice upgrade over the original HomePod, and for $299 you seem to get some decent features that set Apple’s smart speaker apart from the competition.

Does the HomePod (2nd generation) look ^appetizing? Let us know in the comments section below.