Audios connected to Apple’s ecosystem were highly regarded on the original $ 350 HomePod for the best-in-class sound, but users stepped in on the expensive speaker, eventually forcing it Apple stopped the hardware. That’s probably a bad omen for the $ 550 AirPods Max – here’s why.
Apple officially announced on East Coast Friday afternoon that it was shutting down the original HomePod, and instead will focus on the HomePod mini. That information was not a coincidence – late on Fridays are when companies usually throw out some embarrassing news, hoping that very few people will see it after signing up. out of work and start their weekend.
For a company that has been so successful, the HomePod was a wrong move, with a focus on a loud speaker that literally swept away the competition in sound quality, but at a price. Others in space, like Amazon and Google, have found more success with cheaper smart speakers focusing more on being a personal assistant than an amazing sound system.
Eventually, Apple had to go cheaper as well, and found a way to do just that without seriously compromising sound quality in the form of the $ 99 HomePod mini. At that price point, the HomePod mini is less of an investment for consumers, and more of an impulse purchase. Buyers have responded accordingly, and Apple is following market trends by discontinuing the original HomePod.
In fact, Apple has another high-end audio product on the market – one that launched a few months ago. What could stop the HomePod telling us about the future of the AirPods Max?
Stop me if you’ve heard this one before
When the AirPods Max came to an end in late 2020, reviewers recommended the headphones $ 549 for their clever design, attractive beauty, and amazing sound quality. They weren’t sold at all, however, they depended. to Apple devices, or the high price.
It was the same story in early 2018, when the first HomePod debuted carrying a $ 349 price tag. Reviewers praised the sound of the HomePod, led by a series of seven tweeters, but many felt that the price did not justify an upgrade over a cheaper Sonos One.
Like the HomePod, the AirPods Max are also tightly integrated into Apple’s ecosystem. This makes the AirPods Max dead simple to use for the iPhone owner, but difficult for anyone on Android.
At the very least, the AirPods Max have a foothold on the HomePod in that area – the HomePod doesn’t work with Android at all, while AirPods Max can be used with non-Apple Bluetooth devices (although Android users some key features., such as spatial audio support, or automatic switching between devices).
And also like the HomePod, the AirPods Max seem to be squarely targeting the audiophile market.
Another thing that could eventually make the AirPods Max look like the first HomePod is a competition from Apple itself – rumors have suggested that a cheaper “sport” version of the AirPods Max could be developed. Like the HomePod mini, consumers could gravitate towards a more affordable option, if Apple released one.
I am still rooting for the AirPods Max
Full Publication: I have two full-size HomePods, and a mini HomePod, and I love them all. Most of our staff have at least one, and most have multiple. I wish Apple wouldn’t stop the HomePod anymore, but if sales were poor, I definitely understand why.
I am also very interested in the AirPods Max. I have a pair of Master & Dynamic MW65 headphones, which sell for $ 499 – just $ 50 cheaper than the AirPods Max. I am definitely in the target market for AirPods Max.
The main thing that kept me back from considering Apple’s top headphones is a complete lack of support for Apple TV. I have a nice surround sound system that I use with my Apple TV, and it would be nice to use the AirPods Max ‘s spatial audio capabilities to get simulated surround sound when looking at headphones. Unfortunately, that’s not possible with the hardware found in the standard Apple TV 4K, and I can’t see myself spending $ 549 until Apple TV hardware gets an update to support it.
But I also understand that I am not like most buyers, who would be willing to spend $ 550 on headphones for home theater use and music listening. For many, Apple ‘s entry – level AirPods earbuds are perfectly correct – as the price is $ 159.
Even for those who want wireless headphones, Apple offers Beats. And many buyers would probably find the $ 200 Beats Solo3, which is Apple’s W1 chip and W1 chip, much better value.
Even if the AirPods Max followed the same prediction as the original HomePod – that is to say, sold and widely available for three years before it was eventually discontinued – it is not. that’s a bad thing. Many listeners buy and enjoy their premium Apple headphones without reservation.
Also, stopping does not mean dead. Apple stopped the original HomePod from declaring the product “end of life.” That means it is likely to see software updates for months and years to come, with Apple standing by those who have invested in its first-generation smart speaker.
As an AirPort Express owner who uses their device as an AirPlay 2 receiver can tell you, Apple has a good history of long-term support in the niche audio space.
The AirPods Max feels like a passion project developed by Apple’s audio engineers who are skeptical of pristine sound quality.
They also feel like a result that is supposed to be one-on-one – released to the big ones, but never get a second-generation update, ultimately serving as a stepping stone for something that is more affordable, and more responsive to the needs of the wider market.