After facing multiple delays, tech giant Apple consumers will finally have access to smart hi-fi speaker HomePod, as the product will be available for sale on February 9.
However, the consumers will be able to pre-order the device starting from January 26.
The pre-online order will be available in US, UK and Australia only. Apple is yet to announce a date for its Indian consumers. Entrackr’s queries regarding its availability are yet to get a response from the tech company and its CEO Tim Cook.
Earlier, Apple’s HomePod had announced its launch in last year June. iPhone maker later in November said they need a little more time before it can release its smart speaker.
The Siri-powered smart speaker claims to take the music experience to the next level. Users can play music directly over WiFi or AirPlay from iPhones, iPads, Macs, and Apple TVs. The speaker also will be able to send messages and play news updates from National Public Radio and CNN. It is the first smart music speaker after Apple launched iPod Hi-Fi in 2007, which was later discontinued.
Tech giant is working to keep its Siri voice assistant relevant from Amazon’s Alexa and Alphabet’s Google Assistant, both of which are featured on smart speakers from those companies. The smart speakers from Google and Amazon let users give voice commands to play Spotify but Apple Music does not work on the rival devices, reports FE.
With price of $349, things won’t be easy for Apple despite its popularity in the country whereas Amazon Echo is priced at $180 and Google Home costs $129.
Also Read: Wait for release of Apple HomePod nearly over
Analysts said that over the holiday season, the consumers bought a rival speaker. Both Amazon and Google recently discounted their virtual assistant speakers over the holiday season for an aggressive push over market share.
They further said that Apple has estimated revenue between $84 billion and $87 billion for the holiday season as mostly driven by sales of its $999 iPhone X. It is unlikely that missing a few weeks of sales of the HomePod will affect its financial results.
