HomePod Dead Original HomePod w/ odd Lights (Plus & Minus Sign blinking bright white)

[ouimetnick]

I think the fact that it came with OS 14.4 suggests that it was refurbished and repackaged. ..I doubt Apple would go through the cost and trouble of OS updating and repacking old stock in January 2021...especially given that OG HomePods were discontinued 2 months later. IMO, refurbished is better than getting new "old" stock from the original production run, as the issues presumably will have been repaired and you get a new warranty. Will they allow you to purchase Apple Care for it?..for $39 its totally worth it.

Why would a “refurbished” unit have a serial number indicating a late 2017 or early 2018 production date? I wouldn’t be surprised if the stock designated as replacements aren’t stored in larger crates (no power cords attached) for years, and then fully assembled, updated, packaged and then shipped.

 

[Spotlighter9]

I suspect that "refurbished" units in this case would be HomePods that are turned in under Warranty/AppleCare claims, then repaired and refurbished and turned around as a replacement unit for someone else's warranty/AppleCare claims....similar to Apple's Certified Refurbished Sales, serial numbers and production dates don't change and there was only one OG production run from late 2017 to early 2018. All just my speculation of course.

 

[ouimetnick]

I suspect that "refurbished" units in this case would be HomePods that are turned in under Warranty/AppleCare claims, then repaired and refurbished and turned around as a replacement unit for someone else's warranty/AppleCare claims....similar to Apple's Certified Refurbished Sales, serial numbers and production dates don't change and there was only one OG production run from late 2017 to early 2018. All just my speculation of course.

Eh, anytime Apple refurbished something (iPod, iPhone, iPad, Mac) they get a new serial number. I had a refurbished first generation iPhone (discontinued in 2008) with a production date of mid 2009.

 

[Brewc]

One of my OG HomePods went belly up plus and minus blinking, grayed out in HomeKit. So it’s a board issue what I’ve read anyone have a good repair shop in the U.S.? Found the guy in Washington state but he doesn’t try to fix that issue, thought someone said there is a repair place that does.

 

[hamiltonDSi]

Run the serial number through https://serial-number-decoder.com/apple-serial-number/apple-serial.php

What does it say for date of manufacture?

Thanks for that website which says the replacement was made in Week 5 of 2018.

Hey guys, not sure if that website returns legit info.
My refurbished HomePod Mini arrived today so i did a S/N check and according to that website it was manufactured in 2012.. this product came out in 2020

 

[RamGuy]

One of my OG HomePods started with the blinking + - about two months ago. It was running audioOS 16.2 BETA. Haven't been able to reset or do anything with it. I keep plugging it to power every now and then just to see as several people over at Reddit have similar stories with blinking + - and not being able to reset. But a few weeks later it will suddenly work again. I haven't had as much luck with mine sadly.

Really annoying to not have a Lightning or USB-C service port on these HomePods.. Would have made it much easier in terms of doing a DFU restore when it acts up like this. My remaining five OG HomePods are working just fine and they are all on audioOS 16.3 now.