Apple Now Selling Refurbished 2023 HomePod in U.S. for $249

[MacRumors]

Apple today started selling refurbished second-generation HomePod models in the U.S. for the first time since the speaker was released in January. The refurbished models are priced at $249, down from $299 for a brand new model.

Apple began selling refurbished HomePods in the U.K., Australia, Japan, and many other countries last week. Availability has yet to begin in Canada.

Apple says its refurbished HomePods undergo full functionality testing, and they are inspected, cleaned, and repackaged in a plain white box with the power cord and documentation. The refurbished HomePods are covered by Apple's limited one-year warranty policy, and they are eligible for extended AppleCare+ coverage.

The second-generation HomePod has a similar design as the original HomePod that was discontinued in 2021, but with a larger backlit touch surface, two fewer tweeters, two fewer microphones, an indoor temperature and humidity sensor, and a few other changes. For more details about the speaker, read our HomePod roundup.

Article Link: Apple Now Selling Refurbished 2023 HomePod in U.S. for $249

 

[abatabia]

Since my OG died recently I might just need to grab one of these.

 

[arefbe]

Even refurbished, it's still more than $100 too much.

 

[Justin Cymbal]

I really want to get the new HomePod but I’m going to wait until Apple does their annual Black Friday sale this year to buy a new one

In past years, Apple has included a $100 Apple gift card with the purchase of a new HomePod from their store so the net cost would be $199 - 33% discount is definitely a great deal so hopefully they do it again this year

 

[spaxxedout]

Since my OG died recently I might just need to grab one of these.

Hate that happened. Did it overheat? I had one fail because a beta caused its wifi chip to run unbound and melt the logic board. Heck of a product, though.

 

[User 6502]

Still massively overpriced. One of the biggest flops of Apple’s recent history.

 

[spaxxedout]

I think the price is commensurate with the quality, but I agree that they should have debuted the line in closer proximity to the price of an echo. The same can be said about Vision Pro, but the difference between an Echo and HomePod is not the same as a Quest 3 to a Vision Pro.

 

[hardwickj]

Since my OG died recently I might just need to grab one of these.

Are you aware there is a guy who repairs them for <$100. He even records the whole repair process and publishes it on YouTube (here's the video of mine). Check him out: https://track44.moe/homepods/#estimates. He's extremely professional.

 

[dbernie41]

Now that it has been a while, how does the sound of the new ones compare to OG? Any other major benefits of new vs OG?

 

[neuropsychguy]

Still massively overpriced. One of the biggest flops of Apple’s recent history.

Is it a flop if Apple stopped selling them and then released a new one? If they had really flopped, I don’t think Apple would have brought it back. Maybe I’m wrong though and Apple makes decisions to lose money.

 

[citysnaps]

Is it a flop if Apple stopped selling them and then released a new one? If they had really flopped, I don’t think Apple would have brought it back. Maybe I’m wrong though and Apple makes decisions to lose money.

Spot on!

Apple didn't become one of the most successful companies in the world with roughly 1 Billion active customers producing flops. It's just that some people can't feel good for the day unless they take a swing at Apple.

 

[MauiPa]

Even refurbished, it's still more than $100 too much.

LOL. Instead of an unsubstantiated claim, maybe you can put some information behind this statement. When I compare based on quality and audio quality, I can not see any truth in what you say. Sure, you can get something cheaper like some Sonos speakers, but they are not in the same class. You can upgrade the Sonos speakers to a better model, but then they are more expensive. So yah.

If you provide no data whatsoever, it is hard to agree with what you say. so please, help us all out. Prove your point, thanks.

 

[Return Zero]

Even refurbished, it's still more than $100 too much.

Eh, I disagree by $50. I think $199 would be a great price for these. I would buy two more in a heartbeat if they got listed for that again (that's what I snagged the originals for). $249 isn't too bad, but $299 is definitely steep considering the best way to run them is in pairs.

 

[Zeke92]

Even refurbished, it's still more than $100 too much.

Apple fans have always been surprisingly weird about the HomePod. It's comparatively priced to ALL smart speakers on the market, and it's a really good smart speaker. $250 is fair price so is $300 dollars.

 

[Zeke92]

Still massively overpriced. One of the biggest flops of Apple’s recent history.

It isn't. It's one of Apple's best products and comparable to Sonos products in price. In fact, they are cheaper. The tech forums were always weird about the HomePod and I always wondered why. Apple's mistake was discontinuing it. Even if it doesn't sell millions and millions, it's solid eco system builder. For that alone is priceless, and probably one of the reasons they brought it back.

 

[thejadedmonkey]

Apple fans have always been surprisingly weird about the HomePod. It's comparatively priced to ALL smart speakers on the market, and it's a really good smart speaker. $250 is fair price so is $300 dollars.

Other smart speakers come with an smart assistant, not Siri.

They also usually have some form of Bluetooth or analog input. This has neither.

This is a Siri Speaker with Apple Music support. If you aren't 100% invested in both of those ecosystems, it's not a good product.

 

[hardwickj]

The tech forums were always weird about the HomePod and I always wondered why.

Because the only way input source is via AirPlay. It's a legitimate constraint and a valid criticism. Regardless, the quality of audio that comes from a paired set of HomePod's is very impressive given the price.

 

[lgpoldwillow]

Eh, I disagree by $50. I think $199 would be a great price for these. I would buy two more in a heartbeat if they got listed for that again (that's what I snagged the originals for). $249 isn't too bad, but $299 is definitely steep considering the best way to run them is in pairs.

I bought my original at Best Buy for $199. Have added two minis for the bedrooms since.

 

[gugy]

LOL. Instead of an unsubstantiated claim, maybe you can put some information behind this statement. When I compare based on quality and audio quality, I can not see any truth in what you say. Sure, you can get something cheaper like some Sonos speakers, but they are not in the same class. You can upgrade the Sonos speakers to a better model, but then they are more expensive. So yah.

If you provide no data whatsoever, it is hard to agree with what you say. so please, help us all out. Prove your point, thanks.

It's about consumer perception. Most people I know never considered it because of the price, but lots jumped on the Mini version because they felt it was a good value. While the sound and tech specs might justify the price (which I doubt, especially after these years) this product never reached the mass appeal. Maybe Apple intended that way.

 

[RickDEGH]

Still 299€ in Germany.

 

[Zeke92]

Other smart speakers come with an smart assistant, not Siri.

They also usually have some form of Bluetooth or analog input. This has neither.

This is a Siri Speaker with Apple Music support. If you aren't 100% invested in both of those ecosystems, it's not a good product.

I compare these to Sonos speakers. For a while, most of their speakers were purely wi fi speakers with no assistant. People bought them because they supposedly had great sound quality and and an app that was easy enough to use. The HomePod was the same. It isn’t some kitchen speaker for stay at home mothers. I found it odd when technically knowledgeable people acted as if Sonos speakers didn’t exist when these came out.

As far as being invested in the ecosystem, it’s kind of irrelevant. You wouldn’t buy it if it didn’t work well with the products you use. It would be like buying an Apple Watch without a iPhone and then saying the Apple Watch isn’t priced correctly or a bad product. For the sound quality that it gives you, it’s well worth the price even without the added smart features.

 

[isomorphic]

I bought the OG from Best Buy for $199 back in 2019 and consider that fair value.

I'd buy another, but you can't pair the OG and new HomePod together.

If Apple isn't going to lower their asking price, they should at least offer something for buying HomePods in pairs.

 

[gumbyhw]

Apple didn't become one of the most successful companies in the world with roughly 1 Billion active customers producing flops.

I guess you’ve forgotten when Steve Jobs hosted a whole press event to announcen iPod dock. That hardly sold a unit.

Apple could be issuing more large homepods and lose money on them in the belief that the market will develop. But when you are the size of Apple you have to be careful on how they fund a losing product for FTC reasons.

 

[gumbyhw]

I’m about to buy a new TV and wonder if I should get a couple of these instead of a sound bar. We will only watch TV via an appleTV. Anyone have experience of with setup that they would relate? Pro or con?

 

[citysnaps]

I guess you’ve forgotten when Steve Jobs hosted a whole press event to announcen iPod dock. That hardly sold a unit.

Apple could be issuing more large homepods and lose money on them in the belief that the market will develop. But when you are the size of Apple you have to be careful on how they fund a losing product for FTC reasons.

I guess you've forgotten 100% perfection 100% of the time doesn't exist with respect to any tech company's performance, let alone anything else in life (other than, perhaps, gravity).

Again... Apple does an outstanding job overall, as evidenced by its roughly 1 Billion active users, many repeat, and the sheer value of the company. That's what counts.