These sit in different size classes, so this is not a straight ranking comparison. The Apple HomePod 2nd Gen ranks #5 of 29 powered desktop speakers by sound quality at $349; the Brane X ranks #4 of 117 large speakers by sound quality at $549.
What the Apple HomePod 2nd Gen does well: A compact smart speaker with natural, spacious sound that tunes itself to the room, ideal for Apple Music and AirPlay users. 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.
The Brane X is the battery-powered, tougher choice. A portable speaker with extraordinarily deep bass for its size, plus Wi-Fi, AirPlay, Alexa and a low latency aux input. Its battery is rated for 12 hours, while the Apple HomePod 2nd Gen needs an outlet. It is rated IP57, while the Apple HomePod 2nd Gen has no water resistance. It keeps a wired aux input, which the Apple HomePod 2nd Gen lacks. The catch: The front-facing design has only moderate dispersion, so sound changes noticeably off to the sides or behind it.
Buy the Apple HomePod 2nd Gen at $349 for a powered desktop speaker, or the Brane X at $549 for a large speaker instead.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Powered Home rankings and Portable Bluetooth rankings.
A compact smart speaker with natural, spacious sound that tunes itself to the room, ideal for Apple Music and AirPlay users.
A portable speaker with extraordinarily deep bass for its size, plus Wi-Fi, AirPlay, Alexa and a low latency aux input.
Prices on this page were last checked November 5, 2026 at 10:30 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
| Apple HomePod 2nd Gen | Brane X | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $349.00 each | $549.00 |
| Ranked | #5 of 29 in Medium Size Powered Desktop Speakers | #4 of 117 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Battery Life | No Battery | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | None | IP57 |
| Party Mode | Yes (AirPlay 2 multi-room) | Yes (Brane app, up to 8 speakers) |
| Power Input | External AC adapter (detachable cable) | AC Power brick |
| Stereo | No | Yes |
| Weight | 5.1 lbs (2.3 kg) | 7.7 lbs (3.5 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes | Yes |
| App | Yes (Apple Home) | Yes (Brane app) |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes (far-field array, no physical mute switch) | Yes |
| EQ | Yes (Reduce Bass toggle + automatic room correction) | Yes (5 band) |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| TWS | Yes (stereo pairing via Home app) | Yes |
| Drivers | 4in high-excursion woofer, 5x horn-loaded tweeters | 2x 2.5” midrange, 2x 0.75” tweeters + 6.5”x9” subwoofer |
| Inputs | Wi-Fi, AirPlay 2 | - |
| XLR Input | No | - |
| RCA Input | No | - |
| TRS Input | No | - |
| Optical Input | No | - |
| Coaxial Input | No | - |
| USB Input | No | - |
| HDMI Input | No | - |
| AES Input | No | - |
| Bluetooth | No | Yes |
| Dimensions | 6.7” x 5.6” x 5.6” (170 x 142 x 142 mm) | 9.3” x 7” x 6.1” (236 x 178 x 155 mm) |
| Voice Assistants | Apple Siri | Amazon Alexa |
| Streaming Services | AirPlay 2, Apple Music (direct voice control); other services via AirPlay only | - |
| Aux Latency | - | 295ms default, 33ms with aux pass-through |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 31Hz |
| Bluetooth Codecs | - | aptX HD, aptX, AAC, SBC |
| Bluetooth Latency | - | 100ms |
| Maximum SPL | - | 106dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Omnidirectional | - | No |
| Frequency Response | - | 30Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Amplifier Power | - | 200W |
| Digital Aux Input | - | No |
| Bluetooth Version | - | 5.1 |
| Strap | - | No |
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