First HomePod Orders Start Arriving to Customers in Australia and New Zealand

It is Friday, February 3 in New Zealand and Australia, which means it is the official launch day of the second-generation HomePod in those countries. Customers in New Zealand and Australia are always first to get new devices because of time zone differences, though one lucky MacRumors reader was able to get his speaker yesterday.

HomePod 2 White and Midnight Feature Purple Blue
Customers who pre-ordered a ‌HomePod‌ when the device was announced on January 18 are starting to receive their orders, and photos and first impressions will soon be showing up across the web on Instagram, Twitter, Reddit, and the MacRumors forums.

New Zealand does not have official Apple retail locations, so customers in Australia will be the first to be able to purchase a new ‌HomePod‌ in an Apple Store. Available store stock in Australia will give us an idea of what we can expect in other Apple Stores worldwide. The new ‌HomePod‌ is expected to be readily available.

Priced at $299, the second-generation ‌HomePod‌ is similar in size, function, and sound quality to the original model, but it does feature a larger touch display at the top, humidity and temperature sensors, and a U1 chip. Reviews for the speaker have been largely positive.

Following New Zealand and Australia, sales and deliveries of the ‌HomePod‌ will begin in Asia, Europe, and then North America, and Apple Stores will be opening at their regular times for walk-in purchases and so customers can pick up reserved devices.

Related Roundup: HomePod
Buyer's Guide: HomePod (Neutral)

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Top Rated Comments

TracesOfArsenic Avatar
32 months ago
People preordered these...what interesting times we live in! ?
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Born Again Avatar
32 months ago
Congrats to the 15+ HomePod purchasers!!
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Rooster ? Avatar
32 months ago

I went into a Sydney Apple Store (Broadway) today without a preorder and picked up a Homepod. There was a new white Homepod on display but the store was too noisy to test it out properly. Surpisingly the Apple store didn't have any Homepod minis on display to test.

Aftering purchasing a unit and bringing it home the Homepod sounds good but I don't think it has the room filling audio power to replace a good quality TV soundbar. For new TV purchases I will be purchasing a soundbar rather than relying on two Homepods. I was listening to music on my new Homepod at full volume in an open plan living room and wasn't feeling like I needed to turn the volume down. Based on this, I don't think it has the same power as a Bose (or similar) good quality soundbar.

The staff in the Apple store however suggested that the Homepod sound quality is better than the Studio display speakers (for those who are using a Mac Studio display for a Mac Studio or Mac Mini)

Having looked at the white and black versions, I felt the black version looked better. The white Homepod is a very hospital white colour and I dont think it would look as good with white or cream coloured furniture as the black unit does.
You really need a stereo pair to get the best atmos sound and then they are truly great, and in my opinion properly placed give the best spatial separation which I much prefer to any Sonos or other soundbar I have used. Just wish Apple would allow two minis to be used also.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Thomas Weber Avatar
32 months ago

Congrats to the 15+ HomePod purchasers!!
Picking up two today at the local Apple Store. Excited and can't wait :D 16+ HomePod purchasers! ;)
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
lk400 Avatar
32 months ago

People preordered these...what interesting times we live in! ?
The original was a great product with awesome sound quality. But it had reliability issues and failed. Lots of people snapped them up when they were cancelled, and loads of people have been paying above the old retail price for them after cancellation as they pop up from time to time. Certainly not for everyone, but I can imagine why people who loved the original and couldn’t get extras before stock ran out, or people who had failed items (and didn’t get so angry as to not want to give Apple any more money) might have jumped right on this.

I have 6 of the original and so am set. But 3 of those have already been replaced under warranty. I’m sure the day will come that some of these start dying.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
lk400 Avatar
32 months ago

Looking forward to the first real world verdicts in the wild on sound quality vs the OG HomePods - may relegate mine to a bedroom stereo pair and get a new pair for the lounge. Wish Apple would make some IP67 ones with batteries for the garden!
I honestly can’t see them sounding better. I’d speculate they have tried to get them to sound as good while using cheaper components to make more money (or sell for cheaper to move more products).

Unless your original HomePods are in the death throes, I’d stick with them.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)