Apple HomePod 2nd Gen Review: Ranked #5 of 15

Last updated: September 22, 2026

The Apple HomePod 2nd Gen ranks #5 out of 15 total Medium Size Powered Desktop Speakers for sound quality. See all Powered Home rankings for every top pick.

Brand: Apple

Prices on this page were last checked September 22, 2026 at 5:11 AM 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.

As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.

#5 Apple HomePod 2nd Gen: $297.71 each Amazon eBay

Pros: 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. A 4-inch high-excursion woofer moves 20mm of travel, paired with five angled horn-loaded tweeters, and the S7 chip continuously measures the room and re-tunes the output in real time, even as you move the speaker. “Hey Siri” is reliably heard from across a room even at full volume, and two units can be stereo-paired for a genuinely bigger sound.

Cons: 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. There is no way to stream to it over Bluetooth at all, no 3.5mm or other wired input, no battery, and no IP rating, so it’s an AC-only speaker for an already-committed Apple household.

How it compares: Just above it: Marshall Woburn I - $202 more. Just below it: Marshall Stanmore III - $53 more.

AES InputNo
AppYes (Apple Home)
Aux InputNo
Battery LifeNo Battery
BluetoothNo
Built-in MicrophoneYes (far-field array, no physical mute switch)
Coaxial InputNo
Dimensions6.7" x 5.6" x 5.6" (170 x 142 x 142 mm)
DiscontinuedNo
Drivers4in high-excursion woofer, 5x horn-loaded tweeters
EQYes (Reduce Bass toggle + automatic room correction)
HDMI InputNo
IP RatingNone
InputsWi-Fi, AirPlay 2
Optical InputNo
Party ModeYes (AirPlay 2 multi-room)
Power BankNo
Power InputExternal AC adapter (detachable cable)
RCA InputNo
StereoNo
Streaming ServicesAirPlay 2, Apple Music (direct voice control); other services via AirPlay only
TRS InputNo
TWSYes (stereo pairing via Home app)
USB InputNo
Voice AssistantsApple Siri
Weight5.1 lbs (2.3 kg)
Wi-FiYes
XLR InputNo

More Apple speakers →