The new Apple HomePod speaker is now available, ending a near-interminable 8-month wait for the company’s all-in loyal fans.
Early impressions from fans and critics are largely positive, but one party in particular stands out as a voice of contention.
The teardown specialists at iFixit have awarded the HomePod the lowest possible score for repairability; just 1/10.
Related: Apple HomePod vs Amazon Echo
iFixit points out the need to hacksaw the top off the HomePod speaker in order to access the woofer.
Image credit: iFixit
So it’s clear, from this, Apple hasn’t designed the HomePod with gadget tweakers in mind.
Other parts are glued together, making them easier to deconstruct, while the fabric mesh can be removed thanks to a drawstring.
Given the HomePod has an out-of-warranty repair cost of $279/£268 (compared to the US RRP of $349/£319) Apple fans will be hoping the HomePod longevity matches the sound quality.
It also makes the $39/£29 AppleCare+ additional warranty a diligent purchase those shelling out for the smart speaker.
That’ll give you an additional year of coverage, albeit with an additional fee of $39 for instances of accidental damage. However, considering the HomePod is likely to remain stationary in your house, instances of damage will probably be low.
In our ongoing review of the HomePod, we’ve praised HomePod for the sound quality, which is the measuring stick Apple is using to justify its high price point compared to the Echo and Home speakers.
Our own Ced Yuen wrote: “Thankfully, the HomePod sounds great for a speaker this small. There’s a surprising warmth and expansiveness to the sound – with the bass being a highlight. On top of that everything sounds distinct and separate, there’s very little of the muddying other smart-speakers suffer from.”
We’ll have a full review in the coming days.
Have you bought HomePod? What are your first impressions? Drop us a line @TrustedReviews on Twitter.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
