Apple's Beats brand in April unveiled the Powerbeats Pro, a redesigned wire-free version of its popular fitness-oriented Powerbeats earbuds.
Chinese Report Says $150-$200 HomePod and $799-$899 MacBook Air to Launch This Year
Apple will launch lower-priced versions of four products this year, including an iPad, iPhone, MacBook Air, and HomePod, according to a translated report from Taiwan's Economic Daily News via Japanese blog Mac Otakara.
We've already heard rumors about more affordable iPad, iPhone, and MacBook Air models, but this is the first word of a supposedly lower-priced HomePod being on Apple's roadmap. The speaker is forecast to launch in the second half of 2018 for between $150 and $200 in the United States.
At $349, the current HomePod is considerably more expensive than the Amazon Echo and Google Home for $99 and $129 or less respectively. But the HomePod also has significantly better sound quality than its smart assistant rivals, in line with Apple positioning it as a high-quality speaker first and foremost.
A lower-priced HomePod would certainly be more competitive with the Echo and Google Home, but it's unclear if that would come at the expense of audio quality. One possibility is that Apple will release a smaller HomePod mini that still delivers premium sound relative to other portable speakers in that category.
Here's the full breakdown of the Economic Daily News report, based on what we could gather from a translated version:
Of the four products, the new iPad and MacBook Air are most likely to debut first. Apple is rumored to unveil new devices later this month, but it's unclear if the announcements will be made via press release or at a media event. If there is a keynote planned, invites would certainly have to go out soon.
The new 6.1-inch iPhone should debut in September alongside a new iPhone X and so-called iPhone X Plus, and the lower-priced HomePod could certainly be introduced at the same event. The current HomePod launched in early February.
We've already heard rumors about more affordable iPad, iPhone, and MacBook Air models, but this is the first word of a supposedly lower-priced HomePod being on Apple's roadmap. The speaker is forecast to launch in the second half of 2018 for between $150 and $200 in the United States.
At $349, the current HomePod is considerably more expensive than the Amazon Echo and Google Home for $99 and $129 or less respectively. But the HomePod also has significantly better sound quality than its smart assistant rivals, in line with Apple positioning it as a high-quality speaker first and foremost.
A lower-priced HomePod would certainly be more competitive with the Echo and Google Home, but it's unclear if that would come at the expense of audio quality. One possibility is that Apple will release a smaller HomePod mini that still delivers premium sound relative to other portable speakers in that category.
Here's the full breakdown of the Economic Daily News report, based on what we could gather from a translated version:
- 9.7-inch iPad for $259: This lines up with a DigiTimes supply chain report from last December that said Apple is considering releasing a cheaper 9.7-inch iPad for $259 in the second quarter of 2018. The current 9.7-inch iPad was released in March 2017 for $349.
- 6.1-inch iPhone for $649 to $749: This lines up with a prediction from KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who expects Apple to launch a mid-range 6.1-inch iPhone with Face ID, but with some design compromises like an LCD rather than OLED display to achieve the lower price point.
- MacBook Air for $799 to $899: This lines up with another prediction from Kuo, who said Apple will launch a more affordable MacBook Air in the second quarter of 2018. The estimated price range comes from WitsView researcher Yubin Qiu. The current MacBook Air starts at $999.
- HomePod for $150 to $200: Today's report cites industry sources who expect a more affordable HomePod to launch in the second half of 2018. It's hard to decipher details from the loosely translated report, but Mac Otakara's coverage seems to suggest it will be a smaller speaker.
Of the four products, the new iPad and MacBook Air are most likely to debut first. Apple is rumored to unveil new devices later this month, but it's unclear if the announcements will be made via press release or at a media event. If there is a keynote planned, invites would certainly have to go out soon.
The new 6.1-inch iPhone should debut in September alongside a new iPhone X and so-called iPhone X Plus, and the lower-priced HomePod could certainly be introduced at the same event. The current HomePod launched in early February.
Related Roundups: MacBook Air, HomePod
Tag: udn.com
Buyer's Guide: MacBook Air (Neutral), HomePod (Neutral)
[ 152 comments ]
Top Rated Comments
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17 months ago
HomePod mini...? price won't be mini though. were as Google and Amazon's mini speakers are $25-50 depend on sale
You really think any smart device costs $25? Google isn’t selling hardware at a loss. You’re giving them your data with which they make money off of you and you’re paying $25 for the privilege. I’ll happily pay full price for an Apple device and keep my privacy any day.
17 months ago
more affordable
lower-priced versions
Tim Cook abducted by aliens – confirmed.
17 months ago
If Apple starts competing on mid-tier, watch out.
They are transforming into a services company and want devices in as many hands as possible. They have essentially owned the high end market and are now going after the middle markets with products that aren't "Cheap" but are more attainable. My guess is they'll be offering a lot more services after sale to fatten margins.
This HomePod "Mini" definitely takes aim at cheaper smart speakers but will be a better product quality (from a sound perspective) than an Echo Dot.
They are transforming into a services company and want devices in as many hands as possible. They have essentially owned the high end market and are now going after the middle markets with products that aren't "Cheap" but are more attainable. My guess is they'll be offering a lot more services after sale to fatten margins.
This HomePod "Mini" definitely takes aim at cheaper smart speakers but will be a better product quality (from a sound perspective) than an Echo Dot.
17 months ago
Guessing a HomePod Mini is coming.
I'm waiting for the HomePod Plus, or maybe the HomePod Pro.
17 months ago
I think the only Pro product we actually want that hasn't materialised yet, is Siri Pro.
17 months ago
HomePod Mini and a Retina MacBook Air would be awesome. Really don't think we'll get to see a Retina MacBook Air though
Forget retina, just give us a damn IPS display at the same resolution and I'd be happy. The current display in the Air is a washed-out disaster.
17 months ago
And remove the only advantage the HomePod has, the audio?
Nobody wants it for Siri, not unless Siri is magically improved this year.
Nobody wants it for Siri, not unless Siri is magically improved this year.
17 months ago
HomePod mini...? price won't be mini though. were as Google and Amazon's mini speakers are $25-50 depend on sale
People keep comparing the HP to the Sonos One, this is a false comparison. Hardware wise the HP is more on order of Sonos Play:5, so mini would be like a Sonos One.
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