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  1. Home
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Apple HomePod (1st generation) vs Bose Home Speaker 500

Which Speaker Is Better?

    Top
    Main Differences
    Design
      PicturesStylePortabilityBuild QualityControlsIn The Box
    Sound
      Frequency Response AccuracyRaw Frequency ResponseSoundstageDynamics
    Active Features
      BatteryVoice AssistantApp
    Connectivity
      WiredBluetoothWi-Fi
    Comments

Products

Apple HomePod (1st generation)
Bose Home Speaker 500

Tested using Methodology v0.8

Updated Jul 03, 2026 03:49 PM

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Amazon

Tested using Methodology v0.8

Updated Jul 08, 2026 01:06 PM

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Amazon
Apple HomePod (1st generation) Picture

Track

Bose Home Speaker 500 Picture

Track

Bluetooth
No
Wi-Fi
Yes
Speakerphone
Yes
Voice Assistant
Yes
Battery Powered
No
Bluetooth
Yes
Wi-Fi
Yes
Speakerphone
No
Voice Assistant
Yes
Battery Powered
No

Our Verdict

Apple HomePod (1st generation)

Bose Home Speaker 500

The Apple HomePod (1st generation) and the Bose Home Speaker 500 are very similarly-performing speakers, so depending on your listening habits, you may prefer one over the other. The Apple has a better soundstage performance and a more neutral sound profile out-of-the-box. However, it's been discontinued by the manufacturer and may be harder to find in new condition. The Bose offers bass and treble adjustment features to tweak its sound to your liking. It also supports Bluetooth, while the Apple speaker only supports Wi-Fi.

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Variants

  • HomePod (1st generation) (Space Gray)
  • HomePod (1st generation) (White)
  • Home Speaker 500 (Luxe Silver)
  • Home Speaker 500 (Triple Black)

Review

See Apple HomePod (1st generation) Review
See Bose Home Speaker 500 Review
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Check Price

Space Gray
HomePod (1st generation)
SEARCH
Amazon
Luxe Silver
Home Speaker 500
SEE PRICE
Amazon
White
HomePod (1st generation)
SEARCH
Amazon
Triple Black
Home Speaker 500
SEE PRICE
Amazon

Main Differences for
Music

Threshold 

0.10

Music 
 

0.0
0.0
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Full Comparison

Design

Style  

Style Photo  

Apple HomePod (1st generation) Style Photo Sample

SAMPLE

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for pictures & test results

Bose Home Speaker 500 Style Photo Sample

SAMPLE

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for pictures & test results

RGB Lights  

Locked
Locked

Portability 
 

N/A
N/A

Dimensions Photo  

Apple HomePod (1st generation) Dimensions Photo Sample

SAMPLE

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for pictures & test results

Bose Home Speaker 500 Dimensions Photo Sample

SAMPLE

Join Now

for pictures & test results

Volume 
 

Lock in³ (Lock cm³)
Lock in³ (Lock cm³)

Weight 
 

Lock lbs (Lock kg)
Lock lbs (Lock kg)

Power Source 
 

Locked
Locked

One-Hand Carry 
 

Locked
Locked

Build Quality 
 

N/A
N/A

Build Quality Photo  

Apple HomePod (1st generation) Build Quality Photo Sample

SAMPLE

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for pictures & test results

Bose Home Speaker 500 Build Quality Photo Sample

SAMPLE

Join Now

for pictures & test results

Material Quality 
 

Locked
Locked

Water Resistance 
 

Locked
Locked

Dust Resistance 
 

Locked
Locked

Impact Resistance 
 

Locked
Locked

Floats In Water 
 

Locked
Locked

Controls 
 

N/A
N/A

Controls Photo  

Apple HomePod (1st generation) Controls Photo Sample

SAMPLE

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for pictures & test results

Bose Home Speaker 500 Controls Photo Sample

SAMPLE

Join Now

for pictures & test results

Controls Photo 2  

Apple HomePod (1st generation) Controls Photo 2 Sample

SAMPLE

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for pictures & test results

Bose Home Speaker 500 Controls Photo 2 Sample

SAMPLE

Join Now

for pictures & test results

Ease Of Use 
 

Locked
Locked

Feedback 
 

Locked
Locked

Music Play/Pause 
 

Locked
Locked

Call Answer/End 
 

Locked
Locked

Volume Up/Down 
 

Locked
Locked

Track Next/Previous 
 

Locked
Locked

Microphone On/Off 
 

Locked
Locked

Additional Controls 
 

Locked
Locked

In The Box 
 

In The Box Photo  

Apple HomePod (1st generation) In The Box Photo Sample

SAMPLE

Join Now

for pictures & test results

Bose Home Speaker 500 In The Box Photo Sample

SAMPLE

Join Now

for pictures & test results

Sound

Frequency Response Accuracy 
 

N/A
N/A

Frequency Response Graph  

Apple HomePod (1st generation) Frequency Response Graph Sample

SAMPLE

Join Now

for pictures & test results

Bose Home Speaker 500 Frequency Response Graph Sample

SAMPLE

Join Now

for pictures & test results

Slope 
 

Lock
Lock

Std. Err. 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Low-Frequency Extension 
 

Lock Hz
Lock Hz

High-Frequency Extension 
 

Lock kHz
Lock kHz

Raw Frequency Response 
 

Raw Frequency Response Graph  

Apple HomePod (1st generation) Raw Frequency Response Graph Sample

SAMPLE

Join Now

for pictures & test results

Bose Home Speaker 500 Raw Frequency Response Graph Sample

SAMPLE

Join Now

for pictures & test results

Binaural Recording @ 1m 
 

Join Now
Join Now

Binaural Recording @ 2m 
 

Join Now
Join Now

Soundstage 
 

N/A
N/A

Directivity Graph  

Apple HomePod (1st generation) Directivity Graph Sample

SAMPLE

Join Now

for pictures & test results

Bose Home Speaker 500 Directivity Graph Sample

SAMPLE

Join Now

for pictures & test results

Directivity Index 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Stereo 
 

Locked
Locked

Dynamics 
 

N/A
N/A

Dynamic Range Compression  

Apple HomePod (1st generation) Dynamic Range Compression Sample

SAMPLE

Join Now

for pictures & test results

Bose Home Speaker 500 Dynamic Range Compression Sample

SAMPLE

Join Now

for pictures & test results

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

Lock dB SPL
Lock dB SPL

DRC @ Max Volume 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB
Active Features

Battery 
 

N/A
N/A

Battery Life 
 

N/A
N/A

Charge Time 
 

N/A
N/A

Power Saving 
 

Locked
Locked

Charging Port 
 

Locked
Locked

Battery Powered 
 

Locked
Locked

Voice Assistant 
 

N/A
N/A

Alexa 
 

Locked
Locked

Google Assistant 
 

Locked
Locked

Speakerphone 
 

Locked
Locked

Siri 
 

Locked
Locked

Voice Assistant 
 

Locked
Locked

Voice Activation 
 

Locked
Locked

Microphone Mute 
 

Locked
Locked

Far-Field Performance 
 

Locked
Locked

Ambient Noise Performance 
 

Locked
Locked

App 
 

N/A
N/A

App Picture  

Apple HomePod (1st generation) App Picture Sample

SAMPLE

Join Now

for pictures & test results

Bose Home Speaker 500 App Picture Sample

SAMPLE

Join Now

for pictures & test results

App Name 
 

Locked
Locked

iOS 
 

Locked
Locked

Android 
 

Locked
Locked

EQ 
 

Locked
Locked

Stereo Pair Mode 
 

Locked
Locked

Party Mode 
 

Locked
Locked

Multi-Room 
 

Locked
Locked
Connectivity

Wired 
 

Aux Input 
 

Locked
Locked

USB Audio 
 

Locked
Locked

Other Ports 
 

Locked
Locked

Bluetooth 
 

N/A
N/A

Bluetooth 
 

Locked
Locked

Bluetooth Version 
 

Locked
Locked

Bluetooth iOS Latency 
 

N/A
Lock ms

Bluetooth Android Latency 
 

N/A
Lock ms

Bluetooth Range 
 

N/A
Lock ft (Lock m)

Multi-Device Pairing 
 

Locked
Locked

Wi-Fi 
 

N/A
N/A

Wi-Fi Version 
 

Locked
Locked

Wi-Fi Frequency Band 
 

Locked
Locked

Wi-Fi 
 

Locked
Locked

Apple AirPlay 
 

Locked
Locked

AirPlay Latency 
 

Lock ms
Lock ms

Google Chromecast 
 

Locked
Locked

Chromecast Latency 
 

N/A
N/A

Check Price

Space Gray
HomePod (1st generation)
SEARCH
Amazon
Luxe Silver
Home Speaker 500
SEE PRICE
Amazon
White
HomePod (1st generation)
SEARCH
Amazon
Triple Black
Home Speaker 500
SEE PRICE
Amazon
Back to Top

Apple HomePod (1st generation)

Bose Home Speaker 500

Comments

  1. Comparison
 • Posted 2 years ago

Apple HomePod (1st generation) vs Bose Home Speaker 500: Main Discussion

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