Apple Cuts the Price of Its HomePod Speaker Worldwide

Apple first launched its HomePod smart speaker powered by Siri back in January 2018. Coming in at $350, the device wasn’t cheap at all compared to its competitors. And plus, the  HomePod was (and still is) very limited and locked to the Apple ecosystem, making it a hard purchase for those who don’t completely rely on Apple’s services, e.g. using Spotify for music streaming.

It was no secret Apple struggled to sell the HomePod, with the device only claiming 6% of the U.S. smart speaker market as of last year.

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And now, Apple is lowering the price of the HomePod worldwide to make it slightly more affordable. The device now sells for $299 in the United States and £279 (down from £319) in the United Kingdom. Apple also seems to have cut HomePod prices by roughly 15% in other regions where the HomePod is available, according to 9to5Mac.

At $299, the HomePod still isn’t cheap for a smart speaker. But considering the HomePod is more on the premium side of the market, that is sort of acceptable (Google’s Home Max is still selling for $399, for example). The only thing that is personally holding me back from purchasing the device is how limited it is to the Apple ecosystem. I want to use Spotify with this thing, but Siri’s Spotify integration is really poor and limited — making the HomePod a hard purchase, even at $299.

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Conversation 15 comments

  • j_c

    04 April, 2019 - 10:54 am

    <p>Still too high. This is just a speaker you cast things to and the number of ways you cast to it is extremely limited. For around $300 (lower on sale) I can buy an iPad that does many things. I can buy a previous generation Apple Watch that does several things. I can buy an AppleTV filled with apps that I can cast to and connect to nice audio equipment.</p>

  • skborders

    04 April, 2019 - 11:44 am

    <p>Seems as Apple is starting to over-reach with their high priced yet limited products (eco-system) and people are turning to more open platforms.</p>

  • BrianEricFord

    04 April, 2019 - 11:52 am

    <p>Instead of cutting prices, Apple should just claim this was only ever intended for Enterprise and then it’ll be a bona-fide thurrot.com success!</p>

  • Chris_Kez

    Premium Member
    04 April, 2019 - 12:03 pm

    <p>If HomePod had launched back in 2013 or 2014 as "the future of home audio" then maybe they could have gotten some adoption. But coming into the market several years after Echo and everyone else, when early adopters have already jumped in for $50-$150 and been generally happy to trade off convenience for fidelity– I just don't see HomePod ever taking off.</p>

  • Patrick3D

    04 April, 2019 - 12:07 pm

    <p>Anyone wanting to stream Apple Music would be better off just buying an Echo Dot at 10% of the price. Apple has no entry level music device of their own for accessing their streaming service. Time for a new iPod.</p>

    • steenmachine

      04 April, 2019 - 12:29 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#418214">In reply to Patrick3D:</a></em></blockquote><p><br></p><p>Not in same category. The echo dot is a budget speaker with no subwoofer or tweeter. </p><p><br></p><p>Anyone wanting to stream Apple Music, and have it sound like a transistor radio, would be better off just buying an Echo Dot at 10% of the price.</p>

  • steenmachine

    04 April, 2019 - 12:32 pm

    <p>Still too expensive. I've seen them on sale at a much more <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">palatable </span>$229-$249. </p>

    • misterstuart

      Premium Member
      05 April, 2019 - 9:33 am

      <blockquote><em><a href="#418219">In reply to SteenMachine:</a></em></blockquote><p><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">I see a Hokie! Are you around VT? :-)</span></p>

      • steenmachine

        05 April, 2019 - 10:04 pm

        <blockquote><em><a href="#418489">In reply to misterstuart:</a></em></blockquote><p><br></p><p><br></p><p>Graduated (a couple times). Get back about once every other year. Miss Blacksburg a ton. You? </p>

  • provision l-3

    04 April, 2019 - 12:45 pm

    <p><em>"</em><em style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Siri’s Spotify integration is really poor"</em></p><p><br></p><p>Really poor? Siri on HomePod doesn't support Spotify at all. So it isn't really poor so much as non-existent. </p>

  • beckerrt

    Premium Member
    04 April, 2019 - 12:59 pm

    <p> You get a price cut! You get a price cut! Everybody gets a price cut!</p><p><br></p><p>Oprah</p>

  • bill_russell

    04 April, 2019 - 1:38 pm

    <p>Carriers should bundle it as buy an iPhone get one "on us"!* (*with additional year service agreement and increased montly fees). That would nearly guarantee a blockbuster success.</p>

  • dontbe evil

    04 April, 2019 - 2:51 pm

    <p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">apple cut the price… the're desperate part 3</span></p>

    • blackcomb

      04 April, 2019 - 6:18 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#418313">In reply to dontbe_evil:</a></em></blockquote><p><br></p><p>That fruit brand is getting weaker and weaker…</p>

  • red.radar

    Premium Member
    05 April, 2019 - 12:24 pm

    <p>I imagine you will still find the device on sale for less.</p><p><br></p><p>I am actually concerned the device is going to get canned. If apple is willing to license Airplay then….why do I they need this device? I have to imagine strategically other products will emerge from third parties that work better in the apple garden.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p>

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