Apple Drops HomePod Price to $299, Down From $349

[throAU]

And more signs that people do not like anymore Apple's overpricing products anymore.
I guess Apple greedy pricing is not flying anymore.

A fair competitive price would be $190.00 NOT $299.00
Especially when Siri is horrendous.

Still way overpriced when you can get Alexa for $125.00-$149.00
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It was late to the party and way overpriced. In addition, Siri is terrible. So way pay for something that is more expensive that actually works worse?

The sound quality is in a totally different league to Alexa.

If you compare it to smart speakers with garbage sound quality then sure, you can get cheaper.

But it's very much not a fair comparison. As another poster above indicated, the only real smart speaker comparison is the Google Max, and personally i do not trust google at all, and have enough apple products that the ecosystem integration really matters.

 

[curtvaughan]

You only value privacy in select geographic spaces? Or times? The point of a digital assistant is to be available all the time. Unplugging it and plugging it back in defeats it’s purpose.

Not if you are in the space at only select times. I don't need or use the Echo when I'm not in my computer room working on my desktop, and yes, if I had a lot of IOT set up in my house - which I don't - you'd be correct. I would be much more concerned with privacy and security with an extensive IOT configuration. It's the main reason I haven't gone beyond investing in a smart speaker in one room of my house. Being a few feet from my computer dektop (and me in my chair on the computer) I can easily have Alexa deliver music and radio programs, have it track orders from Amazon and the like, give me the time/date/weather, etc. For $139 it was worth it for those features. I don't use it for quality music sound - I use nice wired speakers and headphones for that. If I need a music fix, I generally hook up my LG V40 to those devices. I also make sure to use ethernet for my desktop connections to my router - much more secure than WiFi. But I digress. I'm not concerned with my Echo snooping on me, and when I need it I plug it in, and the only time I need it is when I'm on my home desktop computer. It's irrelevant to my doings in the rest of the house. Special case, I guess, but works for me.

 

[Baymowe335]

Dell, HP and Lenovo, also have a lot of sales, which does not mean they create great products.
Actually last quarter, Apple actually was below its own guidance, both Macsales and Ipads have declined.
Please tell me if they are doing so good, why they have been discounting iphones all over the world (China, Japan and India). Apple usually does NOT discount its products.
So if they are dropping down the price (which $50.00 drop is quite of a Joke) it means either they are not selling as expected, the product is overpriced, or both. Why do you think Apple is NOT disclosing sales by unit numbers anymore?

Those companies don’t even approach $60B in profit per year, first of all.

Also, Apple sells premium products, so people don’t buy Apple products because they are cheap. People buy the brands you mentioned because much of their stuff is the low cost option.

 

[4jasontv]

Nuance in conversation privacy escapes you?

It must. You claim you don’t talk in select rooms. I’ve never met someone who is silent in one room, especially one with a computer.

 

[Shirasaki]

Only if the package only contains like 6 noodles. I don’t understand some people here. You guys want lower prices, Apple lowers the price and it‘s still not enough. Weren‘t there even reports that Apple loses money with HomePod?

The thing is even if Apple lowers the product price, profit margin is still ridiculous. $50 price cut is like nothing for this smart speaker.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

The sound quality is in a totally different league to Alexa.

If you compare it to smart speakers with garbage sound quality then sure, you can get cheaper.

But it's very much not a fair comparison. As another poster above indicated, the only real smart speaker comparison is the Google Max, and personally i do not trust google at all, and have enough apple products that the ecosystem integration really matters.

To a lot of people though the sound quality is good enough on an Echo therefore it’s gets the sale. I have no doubt the HomePod has much better quality sound but its costs more than three times the price of a device that is good enough to play tunes, turn your lights on and off and set reminder etc. It’s not a problem for me and nearly everybody I know who bought at least one Echo, but it’s a problem for Apple because they are not first choice due to their pricing. Great sound yes, but they are also the markets third choice.

 

[throAU]

To a lot of people though the sound quality is good enough on an Echo therefore it’s gets the sale. I have no doubt the HomePod has much better quality sound but its costs more than three times the price of a device that is good enough to play tunes, turn your lights on and off and set reminder etc. It’s not a problem for me and nearly everybody I know who bought at least one Echo, but it’s a problem for Apple because they are not first choice due to their pricing. Great sound yes, but they are also the markets third choice.

That's fine.

And if that's good enough for you then it becomes an ecosystem integration question - and how much it means TO YOU.

But to ignore the sound quality difference and claim that the homepod is overpriced in comparison is like comparing say, a Hyundai to an AMG Mercedes and claiming the AMG Merc is overpriced because you don't need 550 horsepower or radar cruise control, etc.

The fact that you don't need or want something does not make the product overpriced.

For me, i value sound quality and like the integration. I don't trust Google. The google/alexa devices were not a consideration for me for those reasons.

You claim it is a third choice for the market. Maybe some of the market? For me it was the ONLY choice.

 

[The Game 161]

To a lot of people though the sound quality is good enough on an Echo therefore it’s gets the sale. I have no doubt the HomePod has much better quality sound but its costs more than three times the price of a device that is good enough to play tunes, turn your lights on and off and set reminder etc. It’s not a problem for me and nearly everybody I know who bought at least one Echo, but it’s a problem for Apple because they are not first choice due to their pricing. Great sound yes, but they are also the markets third choice.

Agreed, I know for my family the sound on the google hub is still very loud enough for during dinner so much that my HomePod is now collecting dust as the extra sound simply isn’t really needed. It’s far louder than we expected and actually understands you first time as my HomePod for whatever reason has got worse understanding our voices over time.

 

[WatchFromAfar]

Those companies don’t even approach $60B in profit per year, first of all.

Also, Apple sells premium products, so people don’t buy Apple products because they are cheap. People buy the brands you mentioned because much of their stuff is the low cost option.

Come on! You're talking nonsense; are you saying that people buy "Dell, HP and Lenovo" because they're cheap? You don't think (or maybe you're unaware, it would explain a lot) that those companies sell "premium products" too?

 

[YaBe]

You never speak in the computer room. Friends never enter it? You don’t use Skype or FaceTime? You don’t think aloud?

Are you suggesting that they are listening everyone (and by now we are talking millions of users ) 24 / 7 or even have a software that does that? WOW Tin foil hat needed here.

I mean the mere ammount of storage to record and then use a software to decode what you said is impossible, and let's not even talk about humans listening to conversation 24/7...

I mean I am sure if they were listening to me 24/7 I would have more impelling things to do than getting worried about a home speaker.

This privacy thing they are selling you, it is pure marketing!

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

That's fine.

And if that's good enough for you then it becomes an ecosystem integration question - and how much it means TO YOU.

But to ignore the sound quality difference and claim that the homepod is overpriced in comparison is like comparing say, a Hyundai to an AMG Mercedes and claiming the AMG Merc is overpriced because you don't need 550 horsepower or radar cruise control, etc.

The fact that you don't need or want something does not make the product overpriced.

For me, i value sound quality and like the integration. I don't trust Google. The google/alexa devices were not a consideration for me for those reasons.

You claim it is a third choice for the market. Maybe some of the market? For me it was the ONLY choice.

Integration isn’t an issue for me with the Echo as I only use it for Music, lights, reminders, news, radio etc. The voice recognition is better than Siri as I get far less ‘hang ons’ and failures. I don’t get the car analogy though as these are pretty cheap products with far narrower margins than the car industry. My opinion on the pricing was purely personal and a popular opinion I think based on adoption. Nearly everybody I know uses an iPhone but I don’t know a single person with a HomePod whereas the Echo has proven a popular choice. We get whatever we wish though and there’s no right answer here.

 

[Baymowe335]

Come on! You're talking nonsense; are you saying that people buy "Dell, HP and Lenovo" because they're cheap? You don't think (or maybe you're unaware, it would explain a lot) that those companies sell "premium products" too?

That's a huge reason people buy budget products, yes.

Don't just gloss over the $60B in profit either. HP hardware made $4B in profit. Most of their business is cheaper product. Do you want me to pull the financials for you?

 

[Muceda]

Only if the package only contains like 6 noodles. I don’t understand some people here. You guys want lower prices, Apple lowers the price and it‘s still not enough. Weren‘t there even reports that Apple loses money with HomePod?

Joe wanted lower prices --> Joe is happy with this news.
Jim believes this product is terrible and worth less tan $99 --> Jim is not happy with this news.

You come here and say "You guys" …. mmmm

Regards,

Jim

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

That's a huge reason people buy budget products, yes.

Don't just gloss over the $60B in profit either. HP hardware made $4B in profit. Most of their business is cheaper product. Do you want me to pull the financials for you?

Not to mention a lot of the reason those brands are popular is because they offer the Windows operating system and in certain industry sectors that is the only compatible option. I couldn’t use a Mac for my job in the engineering sector where much of the software isn’t Mac compatible for instance. Then again it’s not the cheap options being used in most cases.

Profit means nothing at our level though as consumers as we comment on what we are getting. I’ve never paid more for something because the company that makes it makes more profit than someone else offering a significantly cheaper product. It’s all judged on what the product offers for the money and personal justification. If the HomePod was the only smart assistant on the market, I probably wouldn’t have bothered getting one. It was only the cost that compelled me to try an Echo out and ended up getting three as it was a cool addition to the home. It might be something that falls out of fashion anyway in a few years.

 

[19SK91]

Joe wanted lower prices --> Joe is happy with this news.
Jim believes this product is terrible and worth less tan $99 --> Jim is not happy with this news.

You come here and say "You guys" …. mmmm

Regards,

Jim

I said:

"I don’t understand some people here. You guys want lower prices, Apple lowers the price and it‘s still not enough."

"Some people" - "you guys". The "you guys" referring to "some people" .... mmmm

Regards,

19SK91

 

[BenTrovato]

I never complained about Homepod before.. no gripes with it since I don't own it. But for $299, I think it's still $200 too expensive.

 

[Onelifenofear]

I never complained about Homepod before.. no gripes with it since I don't own it. But for $299, I think it's still $200 too expensive.

Then you don't know why it is not a Amazon Echo.

 

[4jasontv]

Are you suggesting that they are listening everyone (and by now we are talking millions of users ) 24 / 7 or even have a software that does that? WOW Tin foil hat needed here.

I mean the mere ammount of storage to record and then use a software to decode what you said is impossible, and let's not even talk about humans listening to conversation 24/7...

I mean I am sure if they were listening to me 24/7 I would have more impelling things to do than getting worried about a home speaker.

This privacy thing they are selling you, it is pure marketing!

What are you talking about? Text documents are tiny. They already translate what you said to text. You can pull it up in your Alexa app.

 

[AppleScruff1]

Why are profits always brought up when someone likes or prefers a non Apple product? Joe likes Lenovo or Dell but he is a fool because Apple made a lot more money than Dell. Bill likes a Samsung phone but Apple makes more profit so he is wasting his money. What am I missing here?

 

[throAU]

Why are profits always brought up when someone likes or prefers a non Apple product? Joe likes Lenovo or Dell but he is a fool because Apple made a lot more money than Dell. Bill likes a Samsung phone but Apple makes more profit so he is wasting his money. What am I missing here?

Blind defense of their fanboy corp of choice.

I use the products I use because they do what i want and integrate the way i want.

I'd rather the company made a profit in order to survive and be able to provide support for said products, but getting into an e-peen measuring contest over corporate profits is.... blatant fanboyism.

 

[AppleScruff1]

Blind defense of their fanboy corp of choice.

I use the products I use because they do what i want and integrate the way i want.

I'd rather the company made a profit in order to survive and be able to provide support for said products, but getting into an e-peen measuring contest over corporate profits is.... blatant fanboyism.

I certainly agree that I want a company whose products I use to make a profit in order to stay in business. But it really gets overused here.

 

[YaBe]

What are you talking about? Text documents are tiny. They already translate what you said to text. You can pull it up in your Alexa app.

Yeah, multiply that for 24 / 7 and for million of users, who is gonna read / listen to all that, and for what purpose?

I mean it is ridiculous.

Just a quick math, as it is claimed there are at least 56 million smart home devices sold in 2018 (Research Firm Canalys is predicting 56.3 million smart speaker sales in 2018 worldwide. That will be up from an estimated 33 million units shipped in 2017) plus the 33 million in 2017 we have a rough estimate of 89 million devices, now some are replacement so let's say we have 65-70 million devices to hear / transcript.

And even so, they spend that much money to gain what? potential advertizement possiblities? Guess what, an ad agency could do much more for much less!

Picking the lower end 65 million let's say it takes 10 second a user for a complete day of audit transcript by a computer (wich by iself it is impossible as 10 seconds to transcript 24 hours...) now, 10 seconds + 65 million user is 650.000.000 seconds, divide that by 3600 secs (1 hours) is 180.555 hours... , now do that for each day of the year, and even a tiny 100 k file for each user is HUGE and 65 million files a day for a year is 23.725.000.000 files! Simply impossible to hear / trasnscript everyone 24/7.

And those number are gonna grow exponentially as more devices wil be bought and userbase will only grow for the next decade.

And that is smart speaker only, now count phones, watches, smart tv, and other smart things with a mic.... IMPOSSIBLE.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

Then you don't know why it is not a Amazon Echo.

The marketing has failed in that case. At the end of the day the HomePod, the Echo and the google home products all compete for the same part of the market, for those who want a smart assistant. If iPhone users are buying Echos and snubbing the HomePod because it’s more than triple the price, that’s not their problem.

We’ve had a few here defending the HomePod by saying the sound quality is much better than the Echo and no doubt it is. However that doesn’t appear to be a big draw when the sound is fine on the Echo and it can be bought for £64 and now steams Apple Music.

 

[Peperino]

Those companies don’t even approach $60B in profit per year, first of all.

Also, Apple sells premium products, so people don’t buy Apple products because they are cheap. People buy the brands you mentioned because much of their stuff is the low cost option.

It does not matter how much they sell.
Sorry but the excuse that apple selling premium products was over long time ago. That might have worke 4 years ago.
The macbook 2016+ are a complete joke both on design and quality. So much so they got a class action lawsuit for the keyboard.
Mac Pro another failure. Still waiting after 6 years. Mac Mini, using the same pathetic old case that creates heating issues and over 70% more expensive.

I wonder way they lower iphone prices in Japan, China and India.
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The sound quality is in a totally different league to Alexa.

If you compare it to smart speakers with garbage sound quality then sure, you can get cheaper.

But it's very much not a fair comparison. As another poster above indicated, the only real smart speaker comparison is the Google Max, and personally i do not trust google at all, and have enough apple products that the ecosystem integration really matters.

The sound quality is not worth the the cost of almost 150%.
For 350 I can get basic pro quality speakers.

 

[throAU]

The sound quality is not worth the the cost of almost 150%.
For 350 I can get basic pro quality speakers.

... that won't work with homekit.


That's your assessment of price vs. convenience. It works as an airplay target, homekit integrated mic, etc.

I (and others) think it IS worth it.

An extra hundred (?) or whatever bucks to have it work with all my airplay stuff and as a microphone for telling homekit what to do? It's not a lot of money. For me.