Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

MacRumors

macrumors bot
Original poster
Apr 12, 2001
69,444
40,542



OWC is currently holding a sale on audio devices that includes the HomePod in White for $204.99, down from Apple's price of $299.00 ($94 off). The Black color is slightly higher at $207.99. These are currently the best prices for the HomePod among the major Apple resellers online, and just about $5 more than the best-ever price tag of $199.99 seen on Black Friday.

homepod-duo.jpg
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with OWC. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

Both HomePods are brand new but come in OWC's bulk packaging, which essentially means they are shipped in a bland white box and not Apple's packaging. They also aren't covered under Apple warranty but instead come with 1 year of OWC's Fulfilled Limited Warranty. Despite these caveats, OWC is a trusted Apple reseller and this is a solid sale on a brand new version of Apple's HomePod.

Otherwise, OWC's audio sale has numerous discounts on Bluetooth headphones from Beats, Logitech, and Bose, as well as markdowns on Apple's own EarPods. Browse the full sale right here, and be sure to visit our own full Deals Roundup for more Apple sales.

Article Link: Deals: Get a New HomePod for $204.99 During OWC's Audio Sale Event ($94 Off)
 
That’s cheaper than their employees get. The Black Friday sale was insane as well, especially in Apple packaging.
 
Picked up two black ones for $350 from a private seller just before Christmas. Said he won them for hitting sales goals at work (car salesman) but they are not an iOS household. Gave one to one of my mother-in-laws and put the second one in another spot in our house. Having two even in a small house has really proved to be great so far.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Classie
This is a great deal!
I’d love to see three tiers of HomePod (More Powerful, Regular, & Mini) with the top two having Dolby Atmos support. A cheaper HomePod is key to proliferation, but it’s still exciting to see what they might do on a software level given the power of the hardware. (I hope 2020 is the year HomeKit takes off finally!)

On another note, here’s to hoping we get multilingual Siri soon like that white paper Apple released. Let’s see an international roll out!
 
Hoping Apple does a smaller version and cheaper one like something to compete against Amazon Dot
If they made a decent soundbar and sub, coupled with a pair of regular homepods, they'd have a cool little small scale home theater sound system. Something akin to Sonos' components. The only must do in my little hypothetical is proper i/o. The lack of proper i/o was the biggest obstacle to homepod purchase for me. 2nd was price. Should have debuted at $199 imo. The current price (this sale) is right there, but the lack of i/o is a deal breaker. Shame. I like the looks and the sound. Anywho, my mini home theater would be a good idea for Apple to implement.
 
  • Like
Reactions: turbineseaplane
I have the HomePod but to me it just sounds too bass heavy. I use the equalizer in Spotify to reduce it and it sounds much better (to me), but that only works via AirPlay.
 
Make a new model with more I/O please..

Speakers are something people want to keep over a long time period and flexible and diverse I/O options are required for that to be a reality.
 
  • Like
Reactions: praetorian909
They need to matrix these and allow for surround. I have 18 in my whole house I’ve accumulated slowly and it is nice sounding though the limit is somewhere lower on what iOS can handle.
Apple also only has two engineers dedicated to HomeKit and HomePod FYI. Very limited staffing for the product
 
Apple also only has two engineers dedicated to HomeKit and HomePod FYI. Very limited staffing for the product

That is very sad to hear! I wish Apple would throw more resources at this area. I love my Homepods and have a difficult time not buying more (even though I do not need them). I, too, might be interested in a mini version of the Homepod depending on its price, features, and sound (I do not know if I would buy one if it meant reduced sound quality).
 
  • Like
Reactions: BarrettF77
I have a JBL charge 3 as a bluetooth speaker. I am overall satisfied with its performance. I have bene curious about the HomePod for awhile now though. Would the HomePod blow the JBL charge 3 out of the water?
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.