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It's challenging to find a product, smart speaker or otherwise, that is easier to set up than the HomePod. The 6.8-inch tall, 5.6-inch wide, 5.5-pound speaker arrives in minimal packaging, accompanied only by a few sheets of documentation.

I opted for the space gray model (a white version is also available). It is enveloped in a soft yet sturdy mesh fabric. A rubber base with a pronounced indentation likely aids in sound quality, topped with a sleek black surface. A long power cord emerges from the back, as the HomePod does not operate on batteries.

The HomePod necessitates at least an iPhone 5s running iOS 11.2.5. Upon plugging it in, a straightforward installation screen appeared on my iPhone 7—familiar to anyone who has set up AirPods—prompting me to begin the setup process. I designated a location, “Lance’s Office,” taken from the Apple Home app. Following this, I was asked to set up an Apple Music account. Having already exhausted my three-month free trial, I was immediately subscribed at $9.99 per month.

The setup then queried if the HomePod could handle Personal Requests, which encompasses Messages, Reminders, and Notes but notably excludes Calendar access (it did not specify Contacts). The process also included screens for using Siri on the HomePod and connecting my iCloud account and Wi-Fi settings, eliminating the need to manually enter credentials.

After a brief silent setup period, the HomePod announced, “you can’t tell, but I’m waving,” in Siri’s voice.

The HomePod didn't request assistance in analyzing the room for optimal audio quality—a relief for me. Unlike Sonos speakers, which use a Trueplay system requiring phone movements around the room, the HomePod simply delivers 360-degree spatial audio (featuring seven tweeters) and utilizes its six microphones to adjust sound based on the environment. Wherever I stood in my moderately sized office, the audio quality was outstanding.

I've written extensively about the HomePod's audio performance, which I won't rehash here, except to note that it certainly sounds like a speaker worth over $349. It outperforms my first-generation Amazon Echo and matches or exceeds the quality of my Sonos Play:1 speakers.

Talk to Me

Instead, let’s concentrate on my interactions with Siri on the HomePod.

The synergy between Siri, an extensive music library, numerous genre radio stations, and an exceptional sound system is truly impressive. No music query left Siri stumped, whether I requested “Hey Siri, Play Elvis Costello,” or more generalized requests like “Hey Siri, Play some music.” She even tackled more complex ones, such as “Hey Siri, play music that sounds like Ed Sheeran.”

The broader the request, the more Siri leveraged my music preferences—based on my Apple Music selections and personal library—to select a fitting radio station or tracks. It was delightful that the very first song the HomePod chose for me was by Moby.

I also utilized the HomePod to AirPlay audio from my iPhone's TV app (it can also stream from an iPad, Apple TV, or Mac). While playing a movie, the audio quality was impressive enough that I considered foregoing my soundbar when using Apple TV.

As expected, I could pause, resume, and stop playback using voice commands. I also adjusted the volume, typically by percentage: “Hey Siri, raise my volume by 50%.” Siri complied without hesitation. Upon requesting a significantly higher volume, she checked if I was sure, indicating it could get quite loud. After confirming, the music reverberated throughout my home, the bass resonating through the walls and outside.

The HomePod features a small set of touch controls on its glossy surface, alternating between Siri's listening indication and static volume controls for manual adjustment. A simple tap lets me pause or resume playback—quite convenient.

However, the confines of Apple's music streaming capabilities are less user-friendly. While I can interact with the HomePod for music on Apple Music, other services like Spotify, Pandora, and Sirius are inaccessible. To use these, I must route audio through my iPhone, designating the HomePod as the output device. When trying this with Sirius, even after setting the HomePod as the output, I initially heard nothing until I tapped the plus icon atop the device. The music then stuttered briefly before playing smoothly.

In light of the open nature of Amazon's Alexa system, which allows third-party services like Sonos and Sirius to connect seamlessly, this restriction seems short-sighted on Apple's part. It appears Apple is steering HomePod users toward Apple Music.

Inform Me

A smart speaker naturally serves more purposes than just music playback.

Siri on the HomePod can answer a variety of general knowledge inquiries (often pulling information from Wikipedia). It effectively handled simple math questions, weather forecasts (“Hey Siri, Do I need an umbrella today?”), sports updates, and the news. Siri defaults to NPR for news but conveniently allows users to switch to sources like CNN or Fox News with a simple voice command. I opted for the latter, and it worked flawlessly.

Notably, I spoke to the HomePod in a normal tone from across the room. Even with music playing, Siri consistently heard me. Occasionally, if the volume was exceptionally high, I had to repeat “Hey Siri,” but never more than once.

In a humorous turn, during testing, the HomePod seemed unresponsive. After several attempts to engage it, my wife pointed out that I had inadvertently called out “Alexa.” It’s no surprise the HomePod didn’t respond—after years of using one assistant, switching to another can be confusing.

Automate Me

Siri on the HomePod helped me create Reminders and shopping lists that instantly synced to my iPhone. I could dictate notes and send texts, and the text-to-speech accuracy was impressive.

When I inquired about upcoming appointments, Siri regretfully replied, “I can’t access your calendar here. Sorry about that.”

While I understood the HomePod's limitations regarding calendar access, I was still surprised by the apologetic tone. Why is Apple not enabling this feature? I’ve reached out to Apple for clarification but have yet to receive a response.

I was equally disappointed by the HomePod's inability to make voice calls. Despite having access to my contacts for texting, initiating calls was not an option. At least it performed adequately as a speakerphone; I called my parents and found the audio quality satisfactory, with them hearing me clearly without needing to shout. Yet, what I truly desire is the ability to say, “Hey Siri, call Linda,” and have the HomePod dial my wife. If my Echo can perform this function, so should the HomePod. Even Siri expressed her frustration, saying, “I wish I could,” when I asked her to make a call, “but I can’t help you make calls on HomePod.”

In our home, we primarily use Amazon Echo for general inquiries, weather updates, and music playback. Increasingly, however, we rely on it to control other smart devices, like my Nest Thermostat and Sonos system.

The HomePod offers comparable smart home control, but only for devices compatible with HomeKit. While the Apple store lists numerous compatible gadgets, I own just one, an iDevice dual plug. Neither Sonos nor Nest products are included.

I plugged a lamp into the iDevice switch and set up control via Apple's Home App. When I commanded, “Hey Siri, Turn on the light,” it responded immediately, just as promptly when I asked it to turn off.

The Home App, and by extension, the HomePod, can also facilitate full home automation scenes. A scene allows you to manage multiple smart devices with a single command. For example, saying, “Hey Siri, it’s movie night,” could prompt your HomeKit-compatible shades to close, lights to dim, and Apple TV to power on.

With just one device, I created a scene called “I’m here,” set to activate the light when I said, “I’m here.” It functioned flawlessly. Scenes established in the Home App can be accessed through any Siri-enabled device connected to iCloud.

In my opinion, Apple erred in designating the Home App as the HomePod's control center. Its layout is poorly designed, lacking a coherent flow, and there is no central hub for managing HomePod activities. Amazon created the Alexa app for this very purpose, highlighting a gap in Apple’s ecosystem. Unlike Alexa, which has a dedicated app, Siri exists as a dispersed digital presence across iOS, macOS, tvOS, and watchOS without a central interface.

I doubt Apple intends to develop a Siri app akin to Amazon's Alexa app. It seems to prefer maintaining Siri's operations as a "black box" for users and partners alike.

While the Apple HomePod delivers unmatched audio quality, it falters as a smart speaker in several critical areas, all while commanding a price nearly double that of its closest competitor.

Audiophiles might find it irresistible, especially those already subscribed to Apple Music, but for the average listener with a tighter budget, there are currently smarter, more versatile smart speaker options available.