After years of Google and Amazon duking it out over the smart home speaker market, Apple finally joined the party this month with the launch of its HomePod. And whether or not Apple wants to consider the new product a direct competitor to the likes of Google Home and Amazon Echo, it undeniably is. It’s priced within range, it’s powered by a smart assistant, and it’s primarily (but not only) going to be used for playing music. Just like its competitors.
The most obvious competitor to the Apple HomePod, in my opinion, is the Google Home Max. Max is priced just slightly higher and is about twice the HomePod’s size, but for most consumers looking for a high-end smart speaker, the decision will come down to these two. Most shouldn’t get a HomePod.