Apple releases new HomePod with Thread support for 349 euros – Image and sound – News

Apple has announced a new HomePod. The HomePod 2nd Gen is a successor to the earlier model from 2018 and has a larger size than the HomePod Mini. The device supports Thread, lossless audio, Dolby Atmos and AirPlay 2.

Of new HomePod is for sale in the Netherlands from 3 February. It’s a cylindrical HomePod with roughly the same shape as the original HomePod. There is a touch screen on the top of the speaker for music control, in addition to the obvious Siri support.

Apple says the speaker has a woofer whose diaphragm can move 20mm. There’s also a built-in bass equalizer in the speaker and five beamforming tweeters.

The new model runs on the same S7 chip that is also in the Watch 7. The device can play music over WiFi on Apple Music, but for users of services where the HomePod is not yet supported, the HomePod can handle AirPlay 2. Listeners who use Apple Music can listen to both lossless audio and Dolby Atmos. The HomePod also has Thread support so that later Matter devices can be connected to the smart speaker.

The speaker will cost 349 euros.