Apple HomePod (2017)

256 reviews

Dec, 2025

Positive
sound (67)
usability (67)
design (55)
size (28)
reliability (6)

Negative
price (34)

General overview
Price comparison

alaTest has collected and analyzed 256 reviews of Apple HomePod (2017). The average rating for this product is 4.2/5, compared to an average rating of 4.5/5 for other products in the same category for all reviews. Opinions about the bass quality and size are on the whole positive. The design and usability are also mentioned favorably. There are some less positive views about the price, and comments are divided on the reliability.

sound, usability, design, size, bass quality

price

We analyzed user and expert ratings, product age and more factors. Compared to other products in the same category the Apple HomePod (2017) is awarded an overall alaScore™ of 92/100 = Excellent quality.

Review analysis

(Based on 256 reviews)

Expert Reviews

User Reviews

Review Ratings

(57% of reviews)
Show all 5 star reviews (26% of reviews)
Show all 4 star reviews (12% of reviews)
Show all 3 star reviews (2% of reviews)
Show all 2 star reviews (3% of reviews)
Show all 1 star reviews

Features

sound
Show positive (85%)Show negative (15%)(Show all)

usability
Show positive (87%)Show negative (13%)(Show all)

design
Show positive (100%)None yet(Show all)

price
Show positive (26%)Show negative (74%)(Show all)

size
Show positive (97%)Show negative (3%)(Show all)

More features

Showing 200 review(s)

Expert Reviews User Reviews

Disclaimer:

Below is a list of reviews for this or similar products. If you think this grouping is wrong please click here to flag.
Read more on our FAQ’s page.

Showing 1 - 10 of 200 Show Reviews: in English | in other languages (65)

Expert review by : Caleb Denison (digitaltrends.com)

Apple HomePod review

It's finally here. Should you buy one? You'll find the answer in our Apple HomePod review.

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...

Sep, 2018

Read the full review

Expert review by (engadget.com)

Apple HomePod review: A great speaker that’s not so smart

It's no secret that the HomePod was designed to be a speaker first and an assistant second. What's really surprising was how much better the HomePod performs as the former. With an omnidirectional array of tweeters, one big woofer and an A8 chipset to...

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...

Feb, 2018

Read the full review

Expert review by : Justin Jaffe (cnet.com)

Apple HomePod arrives in China on Jan. 18

Siri's homegrown smart speaker enters an enormous and complicated market.

Jan, 2019

Read the full review

Expert review by : Sascha Segan Tim Gideon (pcmag.com)

Apple HomePod Review

The HomePod excels as a high-quality smart speaker for listening to Apple Music, but trails behind Amazon and Google when it comes to voice control.

Jun, 2018

Partner Source

Read the full review

Expert review by : Brandon Dimmel (audioholics.com)

Apple’s New HomePod Speaker to Compete with Amazon Echo

Apple unveiled the aptly named HomePod, a speaker that stands seven inches tall and designed to go up against the Amazon Echo but promises better sound quality. Is it worth $350 asking price? Read on.

Jun, 2017

Partner Source

Read the full review

Expert review by : Chris Davies (slashgear.com)

Apple HomePod Review (2023): New Siri Speaker Sticks To The Old Strategy - SlashGear

The newest version of the Apple HomePod keeps everything that was good in the original version and drops a few of the negative elements. But is it enough?

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

Feb, 2023

Read the full review

Expert review by : Becca Fischer (rtings.com)

Apple HomePod (2nd generation): Lab Tested - RTINGS.com

This Apple HomePod is fantastic for voice assistant use. Built-in Siri lets you activate the device using only your voice, meaning you can enjoy hands-free control of your smart devices. The speaker easily understands your commands, too, even if you're...

Room correction tool, built-in siri

No sound customization tools

Feb, 2023

Partner Source

Read the full review

Expert review by : Stephen Eldon Kerr (rtings.com)

Apple HomePod mini: Lab Tested - RTINGS.com

The Apple HomePod mini is excellent for voice assistant support. It has built-in support for Siri, which you can activate with your voice. It easily understands you from far away, though it doesn't perform as well if you're in a noisy setting. While it...

Built-in siri, excellent far-field performance

Doesn't get very loud

Jan, 2021

Partner Source

Read the full review

Expert review by : Becca Fischer (rtings.com)

Apple HomePod (1st generation) : Lab Tested - RTINGS.com

The Apple HomePod 1 is excellent for voice assistant support. Built-in Siri provides hands-free control, meaning you can control the speaker with your voice right from the comfort of your couch. It can also hear your commands if you're further away or...

Excellent siri voice assistant distance performance, decently balanced sound profile, great 360-degree soundstage

No eq, doesn't get very loud, with compression artifacts at max volume

Dec, 2020

Partner Source

Read the full review

Expert review by : Michael Brown (techhive.com)

Apple HomePod review: For ardent Apple fans only

You'll need a mobile Apple device of recent vintage just to set up this smart speaker, which is tightly tied to Apple services.

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...

Mar, 2018