Apple HomePod sales 'underwhelming,' AirPods still growing, analyst says
Sales of Apple's first smartspeaker, the HomePod, have so far been "underwhelming," according to a Barclays analyst, citing a week-long trip his team spent meeting companies in Apple's Asian supply chain.

While no exact numbers were provided, Apple was originally planning a first production run of 6 to 7 million units, said Blayne Curtis in a memo seen by AppleInsider. Few HomePod figures have emerged, and none from Apple itself, so it isn't clear what the analysts are using for a measure of success. Most recently, Loup Ventures estimated that 3 percent of smartspeaker owners have a HomePod.
The HomePod has typically been praised for its sound quality, but lambasted for Siri, which is more limited as an AI assistant that Amazon's Alexa or Google Assistant.
On a positive note, Curtis said Apple will probably continue to grow production of AirPods, which have proven a strong seller for Apple despite their $159 pricetag. U.S. online orders may still take weeks to deliver, well over a year after their Dec. 2016 launch.
Both AirPods and the HomePod are rumored to be getting updates later this year. The flagship $349 HomePod could be joined by a cheaper model, while AirPods could be tweaked to include a newer wireless chip and tap-free "Hey Siri" commands. 2019 buds could have better water resistance.
Curtis said Barclays is expecting some form of upgraded AirPods early next year.

While no exact numbers were provided, Apple was originally planning a first production run of 6 to 7 million units, said Blayne Curtis in a memo seen by AppleInsider. Few HomePod figures have emerged, and none from Apple itself, so it isn't clear what the analysts are using for a measure of success. Most recently, Loup Ventures estimated that 3 percent of smartspeaker owners have a HomePod.
The HomePod has typically been praised for its sound quality, but lambasted for Siri, which is more limited as an AI assistant that Amazon's Alexa or Google Assistant.
On a positive note, Curtis said Apple will probably continue to grow production of AirPods, which have proven a strong seller for Apple despite their $159 pricetag. U.S. online orders may still take weeks to deliver, well over a year after their Dec. 2016 launch.
Both AirPods and the HomePod are rumored to be getting updates later this year. The flagship $349 HomePod could be joined by a cheaper model, while AirPods could be tweaked to include a newer wireless chip and tap-free "Hey Siri" commands. 2019 buds could have better water resistance.
Curtis said Barclays is expecting some form of upgraded AirPods early next year.
Comments
Sure, but my Yamaha stereo with two nice Mirage speakers sounds better. And that setup cost the same as a Home Pod.
It's just too expensive. This is an accessory, it can't cost as much as a full-blown iPad. And everyone knows it.
If you can't do it $199, don't do it. It's not like someone was forcing them to sell one.
[My comment was not aimed at the author of this piece]
Meanwhile, back in reality - I think there are a few barriers:
- Privacy. Not a lot of people want an 'always listening' device.
- Competition. There are better 'smart' systems out there.
- Sound Quality. It's good for a smart speaker - but audiophiles don't buy toys to listen to audio. If sound quality is your main priority - a smart speaker isn't on your radar.
- Limitations. No Spotify or 3rd party native support. Extremely limited connection capabilities.
- Requires Apple Music Subscription to take advantage of 'smart' functionality.
But it sure fills a hallway with good sound...
Id love to get a pair of AirPods, but the regular EarPods just refuse to stay in my ears. They fall right out after about 10 steps, and forget working out in them. Actually use an old pair of Beats over-the-ear to workout in
Apple advertise HomePod as a powerful speaker with amazing sound that can adapt to its location and a music authority with an intelligent home assistant, capable of handling everyday tasks and controlling your smart home.
It seems the general views are HomePod sounds really good but the Siri Intelligent system falls short compared with other smart speakers. The thing is, however great the sound is, it is being marketed as an intelligent speaker yet it seems Siri is not good enough. This could have effected sales. The question is, will Apple improve Siri any time soon?
Have you ever personally tried a HomePod?
- Privacy: Siri encrypts and anonymizes all communication between the HomePod and apple servers
- Competition: name a better sounding speaker at that price -- dumb or smart
- Sound Quality: there is a market for speakers between audio crap and so-called audiophiles
- Limitations: you can airplay any audio source to the HomePod
-- Requires Apple Music Subscription: Wrong -- I have 2 HomePods and, no Apple Music Subscription -- Siri plays, music from my iTunes library just fine -- all currently implemented features.
However, Siri has trouble identifying Spanish names like: Estrellita... Though you you can spell out the name and Siri will respond.
I've never used a Google or Amazon smart speaker (I have no need for what they offer) -- how do they handle requests for names like: Estrellita or La Paloma by Julio Iglesias?