Space Gray HomePod Currently Unavailable From Apple in the United States

[MacRumors]

The full-size Space Gray HomePod is currently unavailable from Apple in the United States for purchase and delivery, as first spotted by French site Consomac.

The White model of the HomePod remains available for purchase and delivery, indicating this is likely simply a shortage of the Space Gray model, rather than an indication of an imminent product refresh. Furthermore, the Space Gray HomePod is fully available on Apple's website in the UK, France, Australia, and several other countries.

For customers in the United States looking for a Space Gray HomePod, Best Buy currently has them listed as in stock. As a complete alternative, both the White and Space Gray models of the smaller and cheaper HomePod mini are available for purchase on Apple's website in the United States.

Article Link: Space Gray HomePod Currently Unavailable From Apple in the United States

 

[trip1ex]

U1 chip

 

[Mansu944]

Well a spec bump is sorely needed. Siri is a little slow.

 

[Bdub12]

So is it:

A) It goes away
B) New chip
C) Replaced by larger version of the HomePod mini without the beam forming and thus cheaper.
D) They release a sub for the minis to fill in the low end

I've been thinking about adding a second one in my living room for a stereo pair, but I'm afraid of investing if it's about to be changed/cancelled.

 

[billk711]

The full-size Space Gray HomePod is currently unavailable from Apple in the United States for purchase and delivery, as first spotted by French site Consomac.

The White model of the HomePod remains available for purchase and delivery, indicating this is likely simply a shortage of the Space Gray model, rather than an indication of an imminent product refresh. Furthermore, the Space Gray HomePod is fully available on Apple's website in the UK, France, Australia, and several other countries.

For customers in the United States looking for a Space Gray HomePod, Best Buy currently has them listed as in stock. As a complete alternative, both the White and Space Gray models of the smaller and cheaper HomePod mini are available for purchase on Apple's website in the United States.

Article Link: Space Gray HomePod Currently Unavailable From Apple in the United States

Great news

 

[Return Zero]

They do need a processor upgrade at least. My HP mini is much more responsive.

 

[ameerali.ouarda]

They really need to upgrade it as the cheaper mini has features the larger variant doesn't have and the larger one is more expensive and some people such as myself would want the audio quality and size of the larger HomePod and the features of the HomePod mini.

They need to:

-Integrate the U1 chip on the larger variant
-Increase the display LED area

 

[koil]

Well a spec bump is sorely needed. Siri is a little slow.

That's not due to specs, the thing has a 1.1GHz dual-core CPU which has basically nothing to do besides analyse some soundwaves. It also has 1GB RAM which is insane considering it has no graphical interface and such a simplified workload.

Both CPU and RAM are overkill for its workload, and I doubt that will change even if they introduce some kind of app support.

 

[litmag01]

They do need a processor upgrade at least. My HP mini is much more responsive.

Apple might finally be running out of iPhone 6 devices to pull from the scrap heap to cannibalize.

 

[ghanwani]

I'm willing to sell mine for the right price.

 

[itsmeaustend]

Out of stock at every BestBuy Canada location.

 

[Kylo83]

The homepod is bad for me as the bass is to strong and living in a flat got complaints you should be able to reduce bass, the minis are better balanced

 

[840quadra]

Really hoping for an upgrade on this model. Not really for sound , but for connectivity and hopefully improved hand-off functions like the Mini. Also Connectivity seems to be not so stellar.

For whatever reason the original HomePod struggles with 2 different WIFI systems I have had at my home. It almost reliably drops off of airplay when there is an uptick of network traffic, yet the Mini seems to handle it well.

 

[DeepIn2U]

They really need to upgrade it as the cheaper mini has features the larger variant doesn't have and the larger one is more expensive and some people such as myself would want the audio quality and size of the larger HomePod and the features of the HomePod mini.

They need to:

-Integrate the U1 chip on the larger variant
-Increase the display LED area

The larger one has a LOT more use as a home speaker if you connect it to watch your content that supports Dolby Atmos. Sorry but the mini's are not going to bring that level of sound quality.

 

[Maconplasma]

Lordy! Do tech sites and social media sites put out news when Dell, HP or Sonos is out of stock on a certain COLOR of a product? Is this really necessary? Okay so the Grey HomePod is out of stock. Anyone interested in buying it would see that when they go on the Apple website to buy it just like they would any other brand such as when you buy clothes or sneakers from Nike or Adidas. It doesn't necessarily indicate a new model coming.

 

[Rodney Dangerfield]

Sonos rocks!

 

[obamtl]

Lordy! Do tech sites and social media sites put out news when Dell, HP or Sonos is out of stock on a certain COLOR of a product? Is this really necessary? Okay so the Grey HomePod is out of stock. Anyone interested in buying it would see that when they go on the Apple website to buy it just like they would any other brand such as when you buy clothes or sneakers from Nike or Adidas. It doesn't necessarily indicate a new model coming.

When Apple products start to go out of stock in the build-up to an Apple Event, it fuels rumours about potential refreshes/updates of those products. The (unstated) story we're effectively being asked to infer here is that Apple could be about to upgrade the HomePods. Given that it lacks some features of the Mini, that won't be a surprise.

 

[matrix07]

For the love of God just sells HomePod everywhere where there is Apple Store.

 

[Basic75]

Who cares? Says everybody currently living in a country where no HomePod is or ever was available.

 

[Maconplasma]

When Apple products start to go out of stock in the build-up to an Apple Event, it fuels rumours about potential refreshes/updates of those products. The (unstated) story we're effectively being asked to infer here is that Apple could be about to upgrade the HomePods. Given that it lacks some features of the Mini, that won't be a surprise.

I see what you're saying and I agree with you....but only if the actual product was sold out. A color out of stock doesn't mean anything, especially during COVID when stock levels are low with just about every brand. It's just obvious MR has no other important news to put out so they are just scraping the bottom of the barrel with this one.

 

[DekuBleep]

New one coming with same chips in it as the Mini?

 

[macsareveryinteresting]

They might be upgrading the space gray HomePod secretly or or just refreshing it like MacRumors says.

 

[Solver]

Too bad we can't just pay $49 and get a U1/thread upgrade.

 

[Smoovejayy]

If apple makes the HomePod biggie $50 cheaper, adds U1 and makes Siri a tad responsive, I will get one. I have two minis and love them, but I’m not spending $300 on a three year old product.

 

[SirAnthonyHopkins]

The larger one has a LOT more use as a home speaker if you connect it to watch your content that supports Dolby Atmos. Sorry but the mini's are not going to bring that level of sound quality.

Sure but you really need two anyway to get Atmos-worthy sound out of that set up, and by that point at RRP you've spent over £500, which would buy you a far better actual Atmos soundbar or even AV receiver and speakers.