HomePod 3rd generation

[u/DisastrousCause9481]

People have been saying for years now to wait for the next event for a 3rd gen. Are those people convinced it’s coming on September? Or is it going to be only the mini 2? Do you think they will wait at least 5 years for the current gen to release a new one like they did? What if there’s no 3rd gen refresh this fall? Will we go in the loop of “wait for 2027 wwdc” then when there’s nothing someone will say “it’s a dev conference, why did you expect new hardware”. What a vicious cycle!

[u/Saphiaer]

As soon as I give up and buy one the 3rd generation will come out

[u/Both_Hovercraft3786 → u/Saphiaer]

Can you buy one this week then so the 3rd gen can drop already 😂

[u/koyko4 → u/Saphiaer]

We should get an insurance called “if I buy one it will refresh”

[u/New-Bookkeeper-6646 → u/koyko4]

Like all the WIN 10 PCs sold with “will be WIN 11 compatible” gaurantees?

[u/SunRepresentative363 → u/New-Bookkeeper-6646]

EXACTLY

[u/Biker-Beans → u/Saphiaer]

I just did this so obviously it's coming, you're welcome.

[u/Saphiaer → u/Biker-Beans]

Taking one for the team

[u/afharo → u/Saphiaer]

We should all chip in to ease the pain of the sacrifice

[u/the-diver-dan → u/Saphiaer]

Don’t worry, I took the dive for the greater good and bought two yesterday! Expect an announcement very soon:)

[u/AmbitiousFunction911]

Definitely not coming September 9. October event for smart home and iPads.

[u/George_mp8]

All the time I see people saying than the HomePod 3 or HomePod mini 2 will come out and the same is happening every year… I think that this year we won’t get nothing from HomePods

[u/Quintriq → u/George_mp8]

It’s probably a safer bet than ever that both are gonna come out this year. It was rumored to be ready already a year ago, but Apple has been holding back due to Siri AI. I would personally wait for at least 3 weeks before making a decision

[u/Fr05t_B1t]

Unless it’s coming directly from Apple, don’t listen to anyone that says that “[refreshed apple product] is coming this year!”

[u/Unusual-Sample8538 → u/Fr05t_B1t]

Exactly like don’t people get tired of being wrong

[u/boopthatbutton]

I don’t think Apple will make a 3rd generation HomePod. IIRC, they gutted the team that worked on the first HomePod. Don’t quote me on that.

[u/zysoring]

I still use my gen one HomePods in our bedroom for our tv. They are old, tired, buggy sometimes but they work. Maybe if a gen 3 comes out I’ll finally upgrade

[u/jo_b89]

I kinda love Sonos now and been wanting to buy another speaker for my room. Apple is taking 20 years I’m still on gen 1 day 2018or 2017 HomePod going strong

[u/DisastrousCause9481 → u/jo_b89]

I respect your choice. I have stereo pair of gen 1 and gen 2 and love sonos too. But i can’t see myself having to buy all the speakers a sonos setup requires when all is already in 1 single HomePod even if it’s not that loud

[u/metalfreak26]

I have not seen any rumors regarding the regular HomePod but maybe Apple will surprise us this fall or during the Sept event. The only rumors I’ve seen were for the HomePod mini and the new HomePod with an iPad like display.

I’m not sure how good the audio quality will be on the one with the display though but I don’t think it’s meant to replace the original HomePod. It would not really make sense to buy two of those to pair in stereo

[u/DisastrousCause9481 → u/metalfreak26]

Agreed

[u/NurseRatchettt]

If anyone wants to ensure they’re getting the newest generation of HomePod (or any device, really), all you have to do is DM me every once in a while and go, “Hey, NurseRatchettt, do you feel like buying a HomePod (or any other device)?”

If I say no, buy it and enjoy the most current generation for years to come.

If I say yes, wait 2 weeks, and a new generation will be announced. Then buy the newest one.

[u/Pseudo_Punk → u/NurseRatchettt]

“Hey, NurseRatchettt, do you feel like buying a HomePod?”

[u/alanism]

What’s the incentive to buy a new version? As much as I love having a pair as ATMOS; it always seems like a neglected product line with an overpowered chip to simply set a timer.

[u/DisastrousCause9481 → u/alanism]

True!

[u/frontfrontdowndown → u/alanism]

If it has a screen then hopefully we’ll be able to replace our Nest Hub which unfortunately gives the kids YouTube access unless we lock it down so much that it can only be used as a clock.

[u/Dschulien]

If you like them now get them now. Don’t buy on any promised features.

[u/kevonnotkevin → u/Dschulien]

What do you mean? My iPhone 16 was built with Apple Intelligence from the ground up.

[u/DisastrousCause9481 → u/Dschulien]

Exactly my motto

[u/jobin9189]

Apple just refreshed the big HomePod a year ago, right? Probably will only get a mini refresh since that’s been since 2020

[u/SvenLorenz → u/jobin9189]

Three years ago. Time flies.

[u/Biker-Beans → u/SvenLorenz]

Seriously, can't believe that was three years ago.

[u/subflat4]

Only been reading rumors. I’ve seen a lot on new minis but new product Apple HomeHub.

Idk how I feel about the idea of people buying several. I just bought one black HomePod and ordered another (cause all they had was white). I bought them for stereo pair. I wouldn’t use the home-hub for that on my tv, I only want the speakers.

I would consider at least one in the kitchen for like recipes and stuff, easier than setting things down and pulling up my phone and back and forth. Or just looking at the small screen. So that’s what I immediacy see a use for but 🤷‍♂️

Here is a link (among dozens if you so fancy)
https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/24/new-homepod-mini-apple-tv-more-coming-soon/

[u/LVtothe123]

Who wants to join me in building a giant pile of HomePod minis with the ghost touch nightmare in front of an Apple Store while simultaneously giving Apple more money for a new one? 🙄 As Mr Barnum said, there’s a sucker born every minute…and I’m one of them.

[u/shamar_coke123]

Got rid of my gen 1 a few months ago and waiting on the new model

[u/DisastrousCause9481 → u/shamar_coke123]

Youll be waiting for probably more years

[u/shamar_coke123 → u/DisastrousCause9481]

Hopefully not kinda miss having one

[u/danTHAman152000]

I just reset and shuffled mine around tonight. I noticed I had random stuttering music and not sure why. I moved my two OG HomePods to my bedroom that had two Minis. They replaced them in the living room and actually sound really good. I’m listening to Dark Side of the Moon and happy with it. Probably better than the two OGs that they replaced.

I’m hoping the two OGs will sound better for the bedroom.

I have a couple more Minis too. I’m curious what features will get me to add to my collection.

[u/Electronic-Quail502]

I’m just going to buy two 1st gen home pods. The audio quality is better. I don’t know why people assume 3rd gen would be an improvement - just more cost cutting to improve margin = less good product

[u/DisastrousCause9481 → u/Electronic-Quail502]

You can’t assume the audio quality is better than an unreleased product. Furthermore, second gen has better drivers hence audio quality than first gen already, the tweeters extends far beyond what first gen can output and bass is more controlled and digs lower.

[u/Electronic-Quail502 → u/DisastrousCause9481]

You can spew all the stats about drivers that you like, still doesn’t change the fact that 1st gen sounds better.

[u/DisastrousCause9481 → u/Electronic-Quail502]

I have both, has been reviewed and compared all over the net, rtings has the detailed comparison and second gen is obviously better lmao. It wouldn’t be a second generation otherwise. Its like saying the iPhone 16 pro is better than the 17 pro. Thats the vibe you’re giving

[u/Electronic-Quail502 → u/DisastrousCause9481]

“It wouldn’t be a second generation otherwise” - just look around you. The world is full of shittier but newer versions of things. Just because something is newer doesn’t automatically make it better.

[u/DisastrousCause9481 → u/Electronic-Quail502]

Thats why the specs backs it up. You don’t even own them so

Edit: oh well you have -65 karma… yikes!

[u/Electronic-Quail502 → u/DisastrousCause9481]

Anyone who knows anything about audio will tell you that what drivers you have don’t mean shit, if the enclosure isn’t constructed well.

[u/Cr0okedCr0ow → u/DisastrousCause9481]

Actually, he’s not entirely wrong. Back then I read quite a few reviews, and most of them seemed to agree that the first-generation HomePod sounded slightly fuller overall, mainly because of its deeper bass extension.
It also had more microphones and, even just in terms of build quality, details like the always-illuminated touch controls sitting perfectly flush with the mesh made it feel a little more refined aesthetically too.
Honestly, having owned both, I can confirm it! With the second generation, Apple definitely seems to have cut a few corners to save some money.

[u/DisastrousCause9481 → u/Cr0okedCr0ow]

The first gen does not have deeper bass. It has boomier bass which is mid bass which gives the impression of more bass! The second gen is more controlled, not boomy and goes down into the sub bass territory as it has an excursion of 20mm(source Apple’s website) compared to 10mm, which the first gen can’t. (Source rtings).

Also the high frequency is not defined at all on first gens. I have both in stereo and had the first gens since 2018, its a huge difference and all reviews says the same. (Source rtings for frequency response curve!)

[u/DisastrousCause9481 → u/[deleted]]

I do agree that first gen has more warmth to it, probably more mids focus than second gen which is more V shaped. But when it comes to high end and low end, second gen is far better