APPLE has announced its HomePod (2nd generation) and HomePod mini availability in Malaysia.
The HomePod leverages advanced computational audio to deliver groundbreaking acoustics, while HomePod mini offers big sound in a beautifully compact design.
According to Apple, HomePod and HomePod mini users can listen to a catalogue of over 100 million songs with Apple Music via a single speaker, in a stereo pair, and using multiroom audio.
Using Siri, both speakers offer convenient ways to manage everyday tasks and control the smart home. Users can create smart home automations using Siri, get notified when a smoke or carbon monoxide alarm is detected in their home, check temperature and humidity in a room, and use Intercom to send an announcement throughout the house.
In terms audio quality, the HomePod offers rich, deep bass and stunning high frequencies, including support for immersive Spatial Audio tracks. A custom-engineered high-excursion woofer that drives the diaphragm a remarkable 20mm, built-in bass-EQ mic, and beamforming array of five tweeters around the base all work together to achieve a powerful acoustic experience. The S7 chip is combined with software and system-sensing technology to offer even more advanced computational audio that maximises the full potential of its acoustic system for a groundbreaking listening experience.
It is also equipped with a room sensing technology to recognise sound reflections from nearby surfaces to determine if it is against a wall or free-standing, and then adapts sound in real time.
HomePod mini features an Apple-designed acoustic waveguide to direct the flow of sound down and out toward the bottom of the speaker for an immersive 360-degree audio experience. This allows users to place HomePod mini almost anywhere in a room and hear consistent sound. A three-microphone array listens for "Hey Siri," and a fourth inward-facing microphone helps isolate sound coming from the speaker to improve voice detection when music is playing.
The HomePod (2nd generation) is priced at RM1,549 and while the HomePod mini for RM529 and are expected to be available from May 10.
