Apple HomePod 2: will WWDC 2020 bring Apple back into the smart speaker race?

Apple needs to make some serious changes to the HomePod

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Appleis undeniably a technological trailblazer, innovating in the worlds ofsmartphones,laptops,true wireless earbuds, and more – but when it comes tosmart speakers, the tech giant has been left behind by the competition.

Rumor has it that Apple is on the verge of launching the follow-up to its first smart speaker, theApple HomePod. TheApple HomePod 2– or HomePod Mini, as some are calling it – is said to be a smaller, cheaper version of the brand’s Siri-powered speaker, and it could launch as soon as July 22, at Apple’sWWDC 2020event.

That’s when we’re expecting to see theiOS 14update in detail, along with upgrades in the form of iPadOS 14,macOS 10.16andwatchOS 7– and possibly theApple AirPods Studio,AirPods 3, andAirPods Pro Lite.

However, if the new HomePod is to be a success, Apple will need to address some key issues that prevented the original speaker from enjoying the same success that theAmazon EchoandGoogleNest (née Home) devices have garnered.

A limited ecosystem

The original Apple HomePod was launched in 2018 to mixed reviews and underwhelming sales. While the HomePod was praised for its audio performance, its capabilities as a smart home hub were distinctly lacking compared to the likes of theAmazon Echoand theGoogle Home.

That’s because Siri simply can’t compete with the smarts that Alexa andGoogle Assistantoffer, and the HomePod’s reliance on the Apple ecosystem means that thesmart home devicesit works with are limited.

CalledHomeKit, Apple’s smart home ecosystem is controlled primarily through the Home app on youriPhone,iPadorApple Watch.

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There are some great aspects to HomeKit. Setting up something like a smart plug orsmart lightis as simple as scanning the code on the device from your phone or tablet and having it added into the mix – once that’s done, you’re able to control it with your voice.

It’s undeniably cool to be able to walk through the door, say ‘Hey Siri, I’m home!’ and all the lights you’ve set up blink up because your lamps have smart plugs.

Still, compared to Google Assistant and Amazon’s Alexa, Siri is rather limited in what it can do for you as a smart home hub – and with no voice training capabilities, you can’t personalize Siri like you can with other assistants, which means you lose out on both the security of your smart speaker being able to distinguish between different voices in your household and a tailored experience.

This isn’t great considering it’s one of the most expensive smart speakers on the market, and Siri is your main means of controlling it.

With that in mind, we’d love to see better Siri performance in a new HomePod iteration when it comes to enacting commands quickly and allowing for greater personalization in its performance .

Great sound, so-so connectivity

The original Apple HomePod is still one of the best-sounding smart speakers on the market – but when it comes to actually playing your music, it leaves a lot to be desired in terms of connectivity.

Sure, voice control is the calling card of the smart speaker, but sometimes Bluetooth connectivity is more convenient – and that’s something the original HomePod is lacking, which is particularly frustrating when you can’t find a track on Apple’s ownstreaming service.

Apple Musicis the only streaming service that can be controlled with Siri, and you won’t find native support forSpotifyorTidal– so if you want to listen toHi-Res Audiofiles, you’ll be disappointed.

If you buy one of the current Apple HomePod speakers, you’re essentially locking yourself into Apple’s audio ecosystem. The Apple HomePod 2 could rectify this by either adding support for these services, or by allowing for Bluetooth connectivity, letting you stream tracks from your smartphone from whichever platform you choose.

By letting other services have a look in, the Apple HomePod 2 could entice a host of new users who would have otherwise opted for models like theSonos One.

All in all, for the Apple HomePod 2 to make a real impact in the world of smart speakers, the company needs to introduce a little flexibility to its rigid way of thinking.

Apple should really give users the option to stream music from multiple services, and open Siri’s capabilities up to those who aren’t already invested in the Apple ecosystem – and if Apple offers incentives like cheaper Apple Music subscriptions to those who make the switch, it could build a loyal fanbase of smart home enthusiasts.

There are rumors that Siri will be cut from the device entirely to save on cost, making the new Apple HomePod a regularwireless speaker– which is totally feasible given the HomePod’s strong audio performance and multi-room capabilities.

However, we’d rather see some improvements – after all, if Apple can get Siri up to scratch, it could dominate the smart speaker market in the same way it has propelled the true wireless earbuds market with theAirPodsandAirPods Pro.

Olivia was previously TechRadar’s Senior Editor - Home Entertainment, covering everything from headphones to TVs. Based in London, she’s a popular music graduate who worked in the music industry before finding her calling in journalism. She’s previously been interviewed on BBC Radio 5 Live on the subject of multi-room audio, chaired panel discussions on diversity in music festival lineups, and her bylines include T3, Stereoboard, What to Watch, Top Ten Reviews, Creative Bloq, and Croco Magazine. Olivia now has a career in PR.

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