iFixit Tears Down Second-Generation HomePod

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 (Buy Now)

Top Rated Comments

Danfango Avatar
6 weeks 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: 32 Votes (Like | Disagree)
vegetassj4 Avatar
6 weeks ago
Apple had to find some way of getting rid of those excess old Mac Pro case frames.



Attachment Image
Score: 26 Votes (Like | Disagree)
LeonPro Avatar
6 weeks 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
6 weeks ago
Surprised they didn't find a first gen HomePod inside :P
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
GMShadow Avatar
6 weeks 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
6 weeks 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)

Popular Stories

dynamic island

iPhone 15 Dynamic Island to Include New Integrated Proximity Sensor

Friday March 24, 2023 12:27 am PDT by
This year, all iPhone 15 models will include Apple's Dynamic Island that unifies the pill and hole cutouts at the top of the display, but there will also be a material change to the feature that wasn't included in the iPhone 14 Pro models. According to a new tweet by Apple industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the proximity sensor on the iPhone 15 series will be integrated inside the Dynamic Island ...
apple park at night 1

Apple 'Tracking Employee Attendance' in Crackdown on Remote Working

Thursday March 23, 2023 3:41 am PDT by
Apple is tracking the attendance of its employees at offices using badge records in order to ensure they are coming in at least three times a week, according to Platformer's Zoë Schiffer. Since April 2022, Apple employees have been operating on a hybrid home/office work policy as part of a gradual return strategy following the pandemic, with staff required to work from the office at least...
iphone 14 pro max deep purple feature purple

iPhone 15 Pro Rumor Recap: 10 New Features and Changes to Expect

Thursday March 23, 2023 6:42 am PDT by
While the iPhone 15 series is still around six months away from launching, there have already been plenty of rumors about the devices. Many new features and changes have been rumored for the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max in particular. Below, we have recapped 10 changes rumored for iPhone 15 Pro models that are not expected to be available on the standard iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus:A1...
maxresdefault

Nothing Launches $149 Ear (2) Wireless Earbuds to Compete With AirPods Pro 2

Wednesday March 22, 2023 9:48 am PDT by
Nothing today announced the launch of its second-generation wireless earbuds, the Nothing Ear (2), which offer many of the same features as Apple's AirPods Pro 2 at a lower price point. We went hands-on with the Ear (2) earbuds to see whether they're a viable alternative to the AirPods Pro 2 for those who want to save some cash. The Ear (2) earbuds are the successor to the Nothing Ear (1),...
TMobile Sprint

Apple Stops Allowing Sprint iPhone Activations, Removes Sprint References From Online Store

Thursday March 23, 2023 12:06 pm PDT by
Apple is no longer allowing customers who purchase an iPhone, cellular iPad, or Apple Watch to activate a device with now-defunct mobile carrier Sprint. Apple has also removed remaining references to Sprint from its online store. When checking out with a new purchase, Sprint is no longer an option for connectivity, a change that Apple appears to have implemented today. Prior to now, Sprint...
iOS 16

iOS 16.4 for iPhone Nearing Launch With These 5 New Features

Monday March 20, 2023 11:50 am PDT by
Apple says iOS 16.4 is coming in the spring, which began this week. In his Sunday newsletter, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said the update should be released "in the next three weeks or so," meaning a public release is likely in late March or early April. iOS 16.4 remains in beta testing and introduces a handful of new features and changes for the iPhone. Below, we have recapped five new features ...
Hero0009

Best Apple Deals of the Week: Samsung's Smart Monitor M8 Gets Massive $250 Discount, Along With Year's Best AirPods Prices

Friday March 24, 2023 10:23 am PDT by
We saw a lot of great deals on Apple products and related accessories this week, including Samsung's iMac-like Smart Monitor M8 for $250 off, a 30 percent off spring sale at Anker, and the year's best prices on numerous AirPods models. All of these deals are still available to purchase right now, so we're recapping them and more below. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these ...
top stories 25mar2023

Top Stories: iPhone 15 Pro Design Leak, iOS 16.4 Coming Soon, and More

Saturday March 25, 2023 6:00 am PDT by
We're still almost six months away from the official unveiling of the iPhone 15 lineup, but it seems like every day we're learning more about what to expect from the next-generation models. Notably, this week gave us our clearest look yet at what appear to be some changes for the volume and mute control hardware. iOS 16.4 and associated releases are also right around the corner with some new ...