Would you buy the Apple HomePod if it streamed Spotify or Google Play Music?

by Preslav Kateliev / Feb 14, 2018, 9:11 AM

Would you buy the Apple HomePod if it streamed Spotify or Google Play Music?

So, the Apple HomePod is finally out. Apple's own smart speaker... or just call it speaker with Siri? In any case, three things are known about it: it sounds great, it's a bit pricey, and it only streams music from Apple Music (alternatively, you can use AirPlay manually, but you know... every time!).

While it's no surprise that Apple released a product that is locked to its ecosystem, the fact that Apple Music is the only service that can play tunes on this speaker seems to be the major gripe for plenty of users, critics, and reviewers. So, we thought — would this be the only thing to keep people from buying a HomePod?

When you think about it — its $350 price is not incredibly outrageous when one considers Google's Home Max, which costs $400 more. And with its omnidirectional audio and deep bass, the HomePod seems to have the upper hand in sound. Sure, the Google Home Max still has the upper hand with AI, which may be a priority for you and that's fair enough.

But on to our question:

Would you buy the HomePod if it worked on 3rd party streaming services like Spotify, Google Play Music, Deezer, Pandora, et cetera?

Would you buy the HomePod if it streamed from 3rd party services?

Yes, I would

17.59%

I might consider it then

23.62%

No, no, still a no

53.77%

I don't care for that, I've already got / am buying one!

5.03%

Options

23 Comments

1. Man_Utd

Posts: 165; Member since: Feb 03, 2015

Let's just call it what it really is... iSpeaker. Because the rest of the functionality doesn't exist.

posted on Feb 14, 2018, 9:15 AM 5

22. cheetah2k

Posts: 2198; Member since: Jan 16, 2011

The price is the biggest hurdle for me. USD$350 is buttraping at its best

posted on Feb 14, 2018, 8:13 PM 1

2. Babadook

Posts: 230; Member since: May 24, 2016

If I could stream Spotify, yes probably.

posted on Feb 14, 2018, 9:18 AM 1

8. bucknassty

Posts: 1318; Member since: Mar 24, 2017

i think it can, through airplay right? still not worth it

posted on Feb 14, 2018, 10:21 AM 0

16. sgodsell

Posts: 7043; Member since: Mar 16, 2013

So you have to start Spotify from only an iPhone and then use Airplay. If you want to use anything else then you have to use Airplay again on the iPhone. Kind of defeats the purpose of a smart speaker. So No. Plus if want stereo support, then you have to buy more than one HomePod. So now it's double the price if you want stereo. If you want stereo then get the Google Home Max and you will save yourself $300.

posted on Feb 14, 2018, 1:52 PM 1

17. bucknassty

oh trust me, i think this product is a fail... i do not understand it, its a saturated market and this is very limited

posted on Feb 14, 2018, 2:08 PM 0

3. Back_from_beyond

Posts: 1307; Member since: Sep 04, 2015

I'd rather spend a little more and buy a Google Home Max with stereo sound. The Homepod is a waste of money.

posted on Feb 14, 2018, 9:25 AM 6

4. libra89

Posts: 2265; Member since: Apr 15, 2016

Nah, it still needs an Apple product connection so I'm good. I don't like things that only work with one kind of platform. Yawn.

posted on Feb 14, 2018, 9:26 AM 1

5. imlegitcusimthasht

Posts: 306; Member since: Jan 30, 2017

that's it? Not good enough, I rather get an Echo dot with Fire HD 10 acting as a screen, and a battery base for the echo dot and pair it to 2 good loud water resistance speakers like the JBL Boombox or simply get a JBL Link 20 or 300 for Google Hone to pair multiple speakers. All of these devices mention at least have bluetooth speaker functionality for locally stored tracks not on spotify and are more portable. If I really wanted to crank music, I would use a true home audio system with a sub that rattles the wall. And of course, they can all access smart home devices for a fraction of the Amazon Echo 2nd Gen or Google Home Max.

posted on Feb 14, 2018, 9:50 AM 0

6. imlegitcusimthasht

Btw, the Max is not 400 more, should edit the article already. haha

posted on Feb 14, 2018, 9:51 AM 2

7. hmd74

Posts: 540; Member since: Jan 31, 2013

It's about the price, Not the features!

posted on Feb 14, 2018, 10:19 AM 0

9. japkoslav

Posts: 1467; Member since: Feb 19, 2017

Add stereo to features and I would definitely tried it. I have 5 Bluetooth speakers right now and I am still looking for something new and shiny. All of my speakers are stereo.

posted on Feb 14, 2018, 10:26 AM 0

10. cmdacos

Posts: 3975; Member since: Nov 01, 2016

Needs much more than just additional music services. Just scratching the surface on improvements needed to bring value beyond sound quality.

posted on Feb 14, 2018, 10:36 AM 0

11. sirohunter

Posts: 193; Member since: Sep 23, 2017

Nice apple move with the release of the homepod, this will increase Apple Music subscribers and soon as analyst say it will surpass Spotify Users and be the #1 Streaming service in the world. I personally won't buy it because I am barely at home every day xD cheers.

posted on Feb 14, 2018, 11:37 AM 0

12. aegislash

Posts: 1465; Member since: Jan 27, 2015

"When you think about it — its $350 price is not incredibly outrageous when one considers Google's Home Max, which costs $400 more." 1. $350 is very much outrageous, considering it's launching half-baked. 2. Google Home Max is $399, not $750.

posted on Feb 14, 2018, 11:47 AM 4

13. techbuttcheex

Posts: 202; Member since: Jul 25, 2015

It needs to work with more types of audio sources––not just music services.

posted on Feb 14, 2018, 12:07 PM 0

14. gamehead unregistered

$350 for a speaker. I'll pass

posted on Feb 14, 2018, 12:32 PM 0

15. Akraw

Posts: 70; Member since: Apr 02, 2012

i don't need a smart speaker as of now

posted on Feb 14, 2018, 12:54 PM 0

18. Techist

Posts: 311; Member since: Jan 27, 2015

1 Homepod speaker with lameduck Siri (price; $349) versus 2 Sonos One speakers with both Google Assistant and Alexa (plus each of them individually sounds better than the Homepod and you can link them to play in stereo)? (price: $349) https://9to5google.com/2018/02/13/home-max-homepod-listening-test/ Not even a contest here. I would much rather buy the 2 Sonos One's than the 1 Homepod.

posted on Feb 14, 2018, 3:52 PM 0

19. Man_Utd

Great test... so not only is the HomePod mediocre on sound but it sucks on connectivity and AI.

posted on Feb 14, 2018, 4:32 PM 0

20. Godlymansean

Posts: 335; Member since: Apr 14, 2017

Apple user.... Never gonna buy this.

posted on Feb 14, 2018, 4:59 PM 0

21. Luigy04

Posts: 35; Member since: Sep 09, 2014

I'm staying with my JBL Pulse 3 and JBL Charge 3, sounds much better

posted on Feb 14, 2018, 7:27 PM 0

23. ijust

Posts: 1; Member since: Feb 14, 2018

The question being asked by this poll is a continuation of the myth that HomePod doesn't support alternative streaming services in its present form. It does, but over AirPlay, as others have pointed out. It just doesn't support those competing services through Siri. That said, I wouldn't buy it. When Apple overprices things, it is often the case that its product is superior in every way. That is certainly not the case with HomePod. It's late and it still requires more promised software tweaks and improvements down the track before it is properly up to scratch. Hard to believe, really, for a company with the resources that Apple has.