Apple has just announced that their HomePod (2nd generation) and HomePod mini will be available in Singapore starting April 6. We do not have news if Apple will also roll out the availability in other markets in Asia such as Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, etc, but we certainly hope the company will.

Designed to work in perfect harmony, Apple claims the new HomePod leverages advanced computational audio to deliver groundbreaking acoustics, while HomePod mini offers big sound in a beautifully compact design. HomePod and HomePod mini users can listen to a catalog of over 100 million songs with Apple Music; enjoy room-filling audio with a single speaker, in a stereo pair, and using multiroom audio; or create a captivating home theatre experience with Apple TV 4K. With Siri, users can access a range of music knowledge, and search by artist, song, lyrics, decade, genre, mood, or activity.

HomePod delivers captivating audio quality, with rich, deep bass and stunning high frequencies, including support for immersive Spatial Audio tracks. A custom-engineered high-excursion woofer that drives the diaphragm a remarkable 20mm, built-in bass-EQ mic, and beamforming array of five tweeters around the base all work together to achieve a powerful acoustic experience. The S7 chip is combined with software and system-sensing technology to offer even more advanced computational audio that maximises the full potential of its acoustic system for a groundbreaking listening experience.

With room sensing technology, HomePod recognises sound reflections from nearby surfaces to determine if it is against a wall or freestanding, and then adapts sound in real time. Precise directional control of its beamforming array of five tweeters separates and beams direct and ambient audio, immersing listeners in crystal-clear vocals and rich instrumentation.

HomePod mini features an Apple-designed acoustic waveguide to direct the flow of sound down and out toward the bottom of the speaker for an immersive 360-degree audio experience. This allows customers to place HomePod mini almost anywhere in a room and hear consistent sound. A three-microphone array listens for “Hey Siri,” and a fourth inward-facing microphone helps isolate sound coming from the speaker to improve voice detection when music is playing.

To achieve big sound out of such a compact design, the Apple S5 chip in HomePod mini works with advanced software to analyse the unique characteristics of the music and apply complex tuning models to optimise volume, adjust the dynamic range, and control the movement of the driver and passive radiators in real time. The Apple-engineered full-range driver, powered by a neodymium magnet and a pair of force-cancelling passive radiators, enables deep bass and crisp high frequencies.

Two or more HomePod or HomePod mini speakers unlock a variety of powerful features. Using multiroom audio with AirPlay,2 users can simply say “Hey Siri,” or touch and hold the top of HomePod or HomePod mini to play the same song on multiple speakers, play different songs on different speakers, or even use them as an intercom to broadcast messages to other rooms. 

Users can also create a stereo pair with two HomePod or HomePod mini speakers in the same space.3 In addition to separating the left and right channels, a stereo pair plays each channel in perfect harmony for a truly standout listening experience.

With a seamless, acoustically transparent mesh fabric and a backlit touch surface that illuminates from edge to edge, HomePod and HomePod mini boast a beautiful design that complements any space. 

The 2nd Generation HomePod is available in white and midnight — a new colour made with 100 percent recycled mesh fabric — while HomePod mini comes in bold hues to add a pop of colour to the home, including orange, yellow, and blue, as well as space grey and white. Both HomePod and HomePod mini come with a colour-matched woven power cable.

The Apple HomePod (2nd Generation) is priced at S$429 and the HomePod mini at S$139. Apple will start taking orders from March 30, 2023, with availability in stores beginning April 6, 2023.