Apple HomePod (2017)

Excellent, nuanced sound ; Great design ; Easy HomeKit setup and control ; Streaming support via AirPlay

No built-in support for Spotify, Pandora, or other apps ; Requires iOS device running iOS 11.2.5 to set up ; No Bluetooth or Aux jack for non-iOS devices

While the Apple HomePod is an outstanding speaker, it is made for a very specific audience and excludes many potential users. Until the HomePod offers support for multiple streaming apps and has more third-party app and feature integration, its...

Seriously excellent sound ; Siri responds quickly to commands ; Subtle design ; AirPlay streaming works well

Siri is limited compared to its rivals ; Can't identify multiple users ; No Bluetooth streaming or audio inputs ; Limited third-party support (for now)

Chris is Engadget's senior mobile editor and moonlights as a professional moment ruiner. His early years were spent taking apart Sega consoles and writing awful fan fiction. That passion for electronics and words would eventually lead him to covering...

Powerful audio performance with rich, full bass. Measurement mic adjusts audio according to your room's acoustics. Visually pleasing design.

No Bluetooth streaming. No aux input. No voice control for non-Apple music services. Siri is behind the competition. Leaves rings on some wooden surfaces.

The HomePod is a sonic success. Purists may thumb their noses at the DSP and overall inability to disable the room-adapting technology in favor of an unadulterated signal, but we can at least confirm that, while the audio performance may be steeped in...

Great sound quality ; Siri now handles multi-user households ; Flexible and easy to setup smart home hub

The big third-party music services still feel like second-class citizens ; Cheaper price tag is still relatively expensive

Impressive audio quality for its size ; Easy setup ; Works as a Thread border router for Matter ; “Intercom” feature lets you broadcast messages to family members ; Temperature and humidity sensor was recently added, along with sound recognition for...

No physical mic mute control ; Intercom doesn’t support two-way calls ; Supports third-party music services, but only a few are on board ; We’ve heard better-sounding smart speakers in the Mini’s price range ; Still pricey

A series of post-launch updates has turned the smaller HomePod into a much more capable smart speaker. Even with its lofty price tag, the HomePod mini is a worth investment, particularly for Apple users.

Beautiful industrial design ; Very responsive to voice commands ; Good musical performance

The more-expensive Google Home Max delivers higher fidelity ; Limits you to Apple’s own music services ; Siri is inferior to Alexa and Google Assistant ; HomeKit is the least-supported smart home platform

Considering how late to market the HomePod is, it’s very surprising just how far behind the curve this smart speaker is compared to the competition. Perhaps Apple assumes that its brand loyalists don’t mind living inside its walled garden. But not...

As a home assistant, HomePod is a great way to send messages, get updates on news, sports and weather, or control smart home devices by simply asking Siri to turn on the lights, close the shades or activate a scene. When away from home, HomePod is the...

Incredible power, rich audio quality ; Ability to adapt its tuning based on acoustics analysis ; Chic, modern design

Pricey at $350 ; Lack of music services integration beyond Apple Music (though you can use AirPlay to stream Spotify, Pandora, etc.) ; Siri isn't as intelligent as other voice-assistant services ; Only compatible with iOS devices