New HomePod Launches Today, Apple Store Pickup Now Available

[MacRumors]

Apple's second-generation HomePod launches today, with the new smart speaker available for pickup at Apple Stores in the U.S. and select other countries. Online pre-orders also begin arriving to customers today, and pre-ordering is no longer required.

Apple customers can use the Apple online store or App Store app to order a HomePod for Apple Store pickup. Simply select the "I'll pick it up" option at checkout, enter your ZIP or postal code, and select the most convenient Apple Store location. Customers can then select a pickup date and 15-minute check-in window.

Priced at $299 and coming‌‌ in Midnight and White color options, the new HomePod looks very similar to the original HomePod that Apple discontinued in 2021, but there are some subtle design changes and several new features.

The second-generation HomePod has a refined design with a larger backlit touch surface and a removable power cable, while inside there are five tweeters (as opposed to seven in the original model), four far-field microphones (as opposed to six), and new temperature and humidity sensors.

The new HomePod is powered by Apple's S7 chip, and comes with Thread support, a U1 Ultra Wideband chip to support music handoff, and Wi-Fi 802.11n connectivity. It also supports Spatial Audio. Two HomePods can be used together to form a stereo pair, but original HomePod owners should note that the new HomePod can't be stereo paired with the first-generation model.

The new $299 HomePod is available from today in Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, the UK, the US, and 11 other countries.

Article Link: New HomePod Launches Today, Apple Store Pickup Now Available

 

[dantracht]

I’ll say it again: I’m very glad these are an option again. However, I’ll also say again: not spending another penny on a HomePod until apple fixes HomeKit. When my current fleet work as well as they used to before 16.2 ruined them, I’ll get a pair of these two. Not before.

 

[Stuipdboy1000]

Local store has already slipped to 14th March for the Midnight option. Had availability at 8am this morning so either stores aren’t getting many units in or it has been super popular. I’m going with not many units!

 

[dantracht]

Local store has already slipped to 14th March for the Midnight option. Had availability at 8am this morning so either stores aren’t getting many units in or it has been super popular. I’m going with not many units!

Apple marketing 101.

 

[hotstreaks]

music videos will sound just as amazing as their main tracks

momoland: yummy yummy love
x
twice: the feels

 

[mdriftmeyer]

Apple's second-generation HomePod launches today, with the new smart speaker available for pickup at Apple Stores in the U.S. and select other countries. Online pre-orders also begin arriving to customers today, and pre-ordering is no longer required.

Apple customers can use the Apple online store or App Store app to order a HomePod for Apple Store pickup. Simply select the "I'll pick it up" option at checkout, enter your ZIP or postal code, and select the most convenient Apple Store location. Customers can then select a pickup date and 15-minute check-in window.

Priced at $299 and coming‌‌ in Midnight and White color options, the new HomePod looks very similar to the original HomePod that Apple discontinued in 2021, but there are some subtle design changes and several new features.

The second-generation HomePod has a refined design with a larger backlit touch surface and a removable power cable, while inside there are five tweeters (as opposed to seven in the original model), four far-field microphones (as opposed to six), and new temperature and humidity sensors.

The new HomePod is powered by Apple's S7 chip, and comes with Thread support, a U1 Ultra Wideband chip to support music handoff, and Wi-Fi 802.11n connectivity. It also supports Spatial Audio. Two HomePods can be used together to form a stereo pair, but original HomePod owners should note that the new HomePod can't be stereo paired with the first-generation model.

The new $299 HomePod is available from today in Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, the UK, the US, and 11 other countries.

Article Link: New HomePod Launches Today, Apple Store Pickup Now Available

The earliest pick up shows late February. Glad I pre-ordered mine a week ago and still it is scheduled for after Feb 14.

 

[jsamuels]

Picking one up today in Rome, Italy. Beats my preorder by 3 weeks.

 

[8000XE]

Not getting store pickup availability

 

[NightFox]

Apple marketing 101.

Drumming up a perception of desirability through deliberately constraining supplies isn't actually a very successful marketing technique in many markets where the hype surrounding a launch diminishes as time goes on. Making a new product available soon after launch is good, because you'll get a lot of impulse purchases. However, make those buyers wait for weeks and you're giving them time to forget, spend their money on something else or to think 'do I really need this?'.

 

[ZacKaffeine]

Mine still says “pickup unavailable” no matter the zip code I try

 

[Smartass]

Local store has already slipped to 14th March for the Midnight option. Had availability at 8am this morning so either stores aren’t getting many units in or it has been super popular. I’m going with not many units!

lol super popular.

Apple just didnt ship that many units, because they know it wont sell that well.

 

[chineseguy38]

The original HomePods never give me problem with "Unable to connect to the internet" but HomePod mini always do. I will not get the new HomePod since it's using 802.11n Wi-Fi. Same as HomePod mini. This's so stupid.

 

[Reason077]

I'm going to rush out and buy one as soon as they get Spotify support. I've been wanting a HomePod for years!

 

[Reason077]

The original HomePods never give me problem with "Unable to connect to the internet" but HomePod mini always do. I will not get the new HomePod since it's using 802.11n Wi-Fi. Same as HomePod mini. This's so stupid.

5 Ghz WiFi will give a faster connection, but 2.4 Ghz will typically give better signal range, and thus a more stable connection when the HomePod is in a room far from the WiFi router.

Making it 802.11n only was probably a deliberate decision on Apple's part. It'll save a few cents on antennas but also should improve WiFi reliability for most users, in a device that simply doesn't need high bandwidth.

 

[joecomo]

DHL didn’t even bother to deliver (claiming nobody was at home) - will hopefully get my pair on Monday

 

[joecomo]

5 Ghz WiFi will give a faster connection, but 2.4 Ghz will typically give better signal range, and thus a more stable connection when the HomePod is in a room far from the WiFi router.

Making it 802.11n only was probably a deliberate decision on Apple's part. It'll save a few cents on antennas but also should improve WiFi reliability for most users, in a device that simply doesn't need high bandwidth.

Fine with that - would have appreciated a POE option more reliable and avoids the power cable

 

[James_C]

Well looks like they sold out in Bristol. I think the only thing you can say at this time is they sold more than Apple expected. The question is how high was that expectation?

Now back ordered to mid March.

 

[MrMacintoshIII]

Just chiming in to say that I tried multiple zip codes and none of them allow pickup anywhere and shipping delayed many weeks out.

I feel like this is obvious and is not being reported.

 

[cardfan]

Well looks like they sold out in Bristol. I think the only thing you can say at this time is they sold more than Apple expected. The question is how high was that expectation?

Now back ordered to mid March.


View attachment 2152799

Have to wonder about people who overpay for crap like this. They’ll be half priced later in year.

 

[User 6502]

5 Ghz WiFi will give a faster connection, but 2.4 Ghz will typically give better signal range, and thus a more stable connection when the HomePod is in a room far from the WiFi router.

Making it 802.11n only was probably a deliberate decision on Apple's part. It'll save a few cents on antennas but also should improve WiFi reliability for most users, in a device that simply doesn't need high bandwidth.

Apple’s reality distortion field hits once again. The home pod uses an outdated Wi-Fi standard just because it’s using a cheaper Watch chip, downgraded from a more expensive iPhone chip of the previous HomePod. It has nothing to do with bandwidth or stability or anything: it’s just apple trying to increase their margins, same thing they did by removing two tweeters and two microphones.

 

[ZacKaffeine]

Anyone in the US seeing an option for instore pickup?

 

[Cesar Battistini]

They just decided to take 50 dollars off the price, and had to do it somehow.

It's an impressive piece of audio equipment for the price.

 

[jmonster]

Apple’s reality distortion field hits once again. The home pod uses an outdated Wi-Fi standard just because it’s using a cheaper Watch chip, downgraded from a more expensive iPhone chip of the previous HomePod. It has nothing to do with bandwidth or stability or anything: it’s just apple trying to increase their margins, same thing they did by removing two tweeters and two microphones.

On this matter, you're both right.

 

[azentropy]

Anyone in the US seeing an option for instore pickup?

Yes (not that I’m getting one)…

Order now. Pick up, in store:Today at Apple Arrowhead

 

[User 6502]

They just decided to take 50 dollars off the price, and had to do it somehow.

It's an impressive piece of audio equipment for the price.

They didn’t take 50 dollars off the price. It is being sold at exactly the same price as the old one had when it was discontinued.