The 2 Best Apple Speakers of 2023: Reviews

Table of Contents
Intro
Review Updates
Best Speaker
Best Budget
Comparison
Lineup
Page Updates
Conclusion
Discussions

Apple is a tech brand known for making phones, laptops, watches, and tablets, though they've also made some speakers. The best Apple speakers have built-in Siri capabilities, making them suitable for home use. We've tested three Apple speakers, though only two remain on the market, as the first-generation Apple HomePod has been discontinued. However, you can still choose between the Apple HomePod (2nd generation) and the Apple HomePod mini.

Updates

02/28/2023 Apple HomePod (2nd generation) reviewed
02/15/2023 Apple HomePod (1st generation) updated
12/15/2022 Apple HomePod mini updated

Best Apple Speakers

Best Apple Speaker

Apple HomePod (2nd generation) 3

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Finding Store

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Music

7.2

Videos/Movies

6.0

Podcasts

6.5

Voice Assistant

9.2

Outdoors

4.5

Battery Powered
No

Speakerphone
Yes

Voice Assistant
Yes

Bluetooth
No

Wi-Fi
Yes

See all our test results

The best Apple speaker we've tested is the Apple HomePod (2nd generation). Released in 2023, this sleek, wired-only smart speaker retains a similar design to its predecessor and offers an improved overall sound quality. The most noticeable difference between the two models lies in their bass performance, as the 2nd gen brings much more thump and rumble than the original model, making it a great choice for listening to bass-heavy music like EDM and hip-hop. Plus, its bass-EQ microphone is designed to improve your listening experience at lower volumes, as it keeps a steady response in the lower frequencies, meaning you can hear all the punch in the bass without issue.

This speaker is designed for easy integration with your other Apple products. Since it supports Apple AirPlay, streaming audio from your iPhone is a breeze. Plus, you can link the speaker to other compatible Apple devices to spread audio throughout multiple rooms in your home. As with most Apple speakers, you won't find any sound customization tools, but its automatic room calibration device provides a solid sound by adjusting the device's output based on the acoustics of your room. Built-in Siri support means you enjoy hands-free control right from the comfort of your couch. If you want a speaker to fit into your Apple ecosystem, it's a really solid pick.

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Best Budget Apple Speaker

Apple HomePod mini 1

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Finding Store

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Music

6.4

Videos/Movies

5.6

Podcasts

6.4

Voice Assistant

8.5

Outdoors

4.4

Battery Powered
No

Speakerphone
Yes

Voice Assistant
Yes

Bluetooth
No

Wi-Fi
Yes

See all our test results

If you're looking for a more affordable Apple speaker, consider the Apple HomePod mini. It's another smart speaker with built-in Siri support that integrates easily with your existing Apple products, like your iPhone or iPad. Wireless streaming is a breeze thanks to Apple AirPlay support, so you can easily enjoy all your favorite music and podcasts on your speaker. Similarly, you can pair multiple speakers together to spread audio throughout different rooms in your home, which is a cool touch.

This speaker offers solid performance for the price, but there are some key differences between it and the more premium Apple HomePod (2nd generation). You'll notice that the mini is, as its name implies, much smaller than the traditional HomePod. It's not much of a surprise that, as a result, it doesn't get as loud as the larger HomePod, and it can't reproduce as much low-bass. Audiophiles and bass lovers will likely want to opt for its larger cousin, but if you mostly listen to content without a lot of bass mixed in, like podcasts or more vocal-centric music genres, it's not a huge deal.

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Compared To Other Brands

Compatible with Apple AirPlay.
Generally, Apple speakers support Apple AirPlay, so you can pair your iPhone to the speaker to wirelessly play audio content. The speaker and your iPhone must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network to use Apple AirPlay.
Built-in voice assistant.
Apple speakers typically come with a built-in Siri voice assistant. Siri usually understands you even if you're far away, though the Apple HomePod performs better in noisier environments than the HomePod mini.
Good soundstage.
The Apple speakers we've tested have incredible directivity thanks to their 360-degree design, resulting in soundstages perceived as open and spacious. They must downmix stereo content into mono, resulting in a less immersive-sounding soundstage.

Can't easily stream audio content over Bluetooth.
While you can use Bluetooth for audio handoff, which lets you transfer audio from your iPhone to the speaker, Apple speakers don't support Bluetooth pairing for playing audio content. You can stream audio content using this configuration if the speaker and your iOS device are on the same Wi-Fi.
No EQs.
The Apple speakers we've tested don't have an EQ to let you tweak their sound profile. They have fairly balanced sound profiles out-of-the-box, though.
Wired design.
You need to plug the Apple speakers we've tested into a power source for use, which reduces their versatility. They're more suitable as home speakers than portable speakers.
Not impact or water-resistant.
Since the Apple speakers we've tested are generally for home use, they aren't impact-resistant or water-resistant. They typically aren't rated for dust resistance, either.

Apple vs Amazon

Apple and Amazon both manufacture smart home speakers with built-in voice assistant support. Amazon's Echo series offers well-designed wired speakers for home use in several sizes and price points to meet your needs. Naturally, they rely on Amazon's Alexa voice assistant instead of Apple's Siri. Also, they have more customization tools in general.

Apple vs Google

While Apple's speakers are designed for easy integration with the Apple ecosystem, Google's speakers are designed with other Google products in mind. You'll find built-in Google Assistant rather than Siri and Chromecast built-in support rather than Apple AirPlay compatibility. These sleek wired-only home speakers are available at similar prices, though Google's speakers come with more customization tools.

Apple produces premium smart speakers that are designed for home use, as well as easy integration into your existing Apple ecosystem. However, they don't come with an EQ to customize their sound. Additionally, they're hard to pair with devices over Bluetooth, and some of their functions aren't compatible with Android devices.

Lineup

Apple has only manufactured three speakers as of our publication date. The "HomePod" series represents their top-of-the-line premium speakers that are larger and have some additional features compared to the smaller "HomePod mini" series.

Recent Updates

Jul 11, 2023: No new Apple speakers tested since the last update. Minor text changes for clarity.
Mar 15, 2023: With the release of the Apple HomePod (2nd generation), we've updated the text and added the speaker as the 'Best Speaker' pick.
Feb 09, 2023: No changes in product picks; minor updates to the text regarding the second-generation HomePod release.
Oct 14, 2022: Removed the Apple HomePod from the Notable Mentions and made small adjustments to overall text for accuracy.
Jun 16, 2022: Minor updates to text for consistency.

Conclusion

Apple speakers generally have a Siri voice assistant built-in and must be plugged into a power source. They're compatible with Apple AirPlay for streaming audio content from an iPhone, but you can't easily pair them with devices via Bluetooth. Typically, they're not water or impact-resistant since they're designed for home use.

Test Results

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