iFixit Tears Down Second-Generation HomePod - MacRumors
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iFixit Tears Down Second-Generation HomePod

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Repair site iFixit today tore apart the second-generation HomePod that Apple began selling last week, sharing a video teardown of the device and testing its repairability.


The ‌HomePod‌ 2 looks very similar to the original ‌HomePod‌, but Apple has given it a more repairable design that uses less adhesive. With the original ‌HomePod‌, iFixit had to resort to special cutting tools, but the new version does not have as much glue and it is easier to open it up.

There are no major surprises inside the ‌HomePod‌, with iFixit locating the S7 processor, LEDs that show through the display at the top, a large internal woofer, amplifier board, heat sink, power supply, and five tweeters.

The look at the woofer is interesting because iFixit is able to demonstrate just how much it's moving even when the volume isn't maxed out. With all of the audio components removed, the humidity and temperature sensor is visible at the bottom of the ‌HomePod‌. It is the exact same sensor that's in the HomePod mini.

Overall, iFixit said that the ‌HomePod‌ 2 was surprisingly easy to dismantle simply because Apple removed all of the excess adhesive. Those who want to repair their own HomePods should be able to do so.

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

Top Rated Comments

Danfango Avatar
Danfango
42 months ago

Just unbelievable how they shipped the OG without a heatsink attached to the audio amplifier (highlighted in orange)....




These are class D audio amplifiers. They do not dissipate any notable amount of power compared to class A/B/AB amplifiers which are traditionally used in audio amplifiers as they never operate in the "linear region". The output is just switched on and off very quickly and filtered.

The IR4301 in that series of chips can drive 160W into 4 ohms without a heatsink at all, all day every day and is merely 5x6mm in size. We've come a looooong way in audio design from big bulky amplifiers. Most of the mass now is the power supplies.

Datasheet here if you're interested: https://www.mouser.co.uk/datasheet/2/196/ir4301-1732434.pdf
Score: 33 Votes (Like | Disagree)
vegetassj4 Avatar
vegetassj4
42 months ago
Apple had to find some way of getting rid of those excess old Mac Pro case frames.



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Score: 26 Votes (Like | Disagree)
L
LeonPro
42 months ago

I still struggle with the design of an omnidirectional speaker array in a device that has to be plugged into a wall
As opposed to? Battery operated? I definitely don't want home speakers to be battery-operated.
Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)
everlast3434 Avatar
everlast3434
42 months ago
Surprised they didn't find a first gen HomePod inside :P
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
GMShadow Avatar
GMShadow
42 months ago

As opposed to? Battery operated? I definitely don't want home speakers to be battery-operated.
You don't want to put eight D batteries in your boombox for some tunes?
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
NT1440 Avatar
NT1440
42 months ago

Bingo! Apple's problem with the first HomePod was that it had so much that they had no clear upgrade path. With this version, they can introduce iterative updates, making each version contain things that are the "best we've ever had in a HomePod."
I don’t think that home audio is a category that chases updates…

Most people buy the thing and it works for years and years and years.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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