I’m a little bummed that Apple has discontinued the standard HomePod to focus on the HomePod mini. Don’t get me wrong: I like the mini just fine, but I really appreciate the audio quality of its big brother.
The demise of the bigger HomePod also begs a question: if it’s the only HomePod around, will the mini still be called the mini a few years from now? For the foreseeable future, the moniker makes sense, as the original HomePod will continue to get software updates and support from Apple Care.
But when supplies run out and the original HomePod fades into memory, it doesn’t seem logical to call Apple’s remaining wireless speaker a “mini.” After all, “mini” compared to what? Or perhaps the tech giant will introduce a speaker that’s a cross (feature-wise) between the mini and the original HomePod, price it around US$199, and dub it the HomePod.
It will be interesting to see Apple’s plans for its speaker line-up. It will also be interesting to see if Apple offers the HomePod mini in more colors than black and white, as the company is rumored to be offering its upcoming iMac revamp in new colors.
