Short answer: the Apple HomePod 2nd Gen for better sound quality, the Amazon Echo Pop for the lower price. The Apple HomePod 2nd Gen ranks #5 of 28 powered desktop speakers, rated 4.0/5, at $349. The Amazon Echo Pop ranks #14, rated 2.4/5, at $45.98, $303.02 cheaper.
The case for the Amazon Echo Pop: A compact 0.4 lbs (195 g) half-sphere Alexa smart speaker with strong voice pickup, a mic mute button and Matter and Sidewalk smart home support. The catch: PCWorld’s earlier review was blunt: despite a larger 1.95-inch driver on paper, it sounded flat and tinny with only a hint of bass next to the smaller-driver Echo Dot, and called the value proposition a hard no; RTINGS’ more recent test agrees on the underlying tradeoff, noting it can’t reproduce as much low bass as the Amazon Echo Dot Max and doesn’t get very loud.
Why pick the Apple HomePod 2nd Gen: What Hi-Fi gave it a perfect 5 stars for sound and a What Hi-Fi Award, calling it natural, solid and energetic with a spacious, three-dimensional presentation on Dolby Atmos content. It has an adjustable EQ, which the Amazon Echo Pop lacks. The catch: What Hi-Fi’s own comparison found the pricier Sonos Era 300 has more power, punch and detail, and Siri cannot launch Spotify, Tidal or other non-Apple services directly, only Apple Music by voice; everything else has to be sent over AirPlay from a phone.
Buy the Amazon Echo Pop if the price matters more than sound quality. Buy the Apple HomePod 2nd Gen if sound quality matters more than the price.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Powered Home rankings.
A compact 195 g half-sphere Alexa smart speaker with strong voice pickup, a mic mute button and Matter and Sidewalk smart home support.
Amazon $45.98 eBay
What Hi-Fi gave it a perfect 5 stars for sound and a What Hi-Fi Award, calling it natural, solid and energetic with a spacious, three-dimensional presentation on Dolby Atmos content.
Amazon $349.00 eBayPrices on this page were last checked October 16, 2026 at 5:46 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Amazon Echo Pop | Apple HomePod 2nd Gen | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $45.98 each | $349.00 each |
| Ranked | #14 of 14 in Small Size Powered Desktop Speakers | #5 of 28 in Medium Size Powered Desktop Speakers |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Battery Life | No Battery | No Battery |
| IP Rating | None | None |
| Party Mode | Yes (Wi-Fi multi-room, Alexa) | Yes (AirPlay 2 multi-room) |
| Power Input | External AC adapter | External AC adapter (detachable cable) |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Weight | 0.4 lbs (195 g) | 5.1 lbs (2.3 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes | Yes |
| App | Yes (Alexa) | Yes (Apple Home) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC | - |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes (mic mute switch; no motion or temperature sensor) | Yes (far-field array, no physical mute switch) |
| EQ | No | Yes (Reduce Bass toggle + automatic room correction) |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| TWS | Yes (Wi-Fi stereo pairing via Alexa app) | Yes (stereo pairing via Home app) |
| Drivers | 1.95in driver | 4in high-excursion woofer, 5x horn-loaded tweeters |
| Inputs | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | Wi-Fi, AirPlay 2 |
| XLR Input | No | No |
| RCA Input | No | No |
| TRS Input | No | No |
| Optical Input | No | No |
| Coaxial Input | No | No |
| USB Input | No | No |
| HDMI Input | No | No |
| AES Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes | No |
| Dimensions | 3.8” x 4.1” x 3.6” (96 x 104 x 91 mm) (H x W x D) | 6.7” x 5.6” x 5.6” (170 x 142 x 142 mm) |
| Voice Assistants | Amazon Alexa / Alexa+ | Apple Siri |
| Streaming Services | Amazon Music, Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer, Pandora, iHeartRadio, SiriusXM, TuneIn | AirPlay 2, Apple Music (direct voice control); other services via AirPlay only |
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