Google Home Max vs Apple HomePod (1st generation)

Which Speaker Is Better?

Products

Google Home Max
Apple HomePod (1st generation)

Tested using Methodology v0.8

Updated Aug 14, 2024 02:01 PM

Amazon.com

Tested using Methodology v0.8

Updated Sep 04, 2024 07:33 PM

Amazon.com

Our Verdict

Google Home Max

Apple HomePod (1st generation)

The Google Home Max and the Apple HomePod (1st generation) are two speakers with a voice assistant built-in, and you may prefer one over the other. While both speakers have a similarly balanced sound profile, the Google speaker has a companion app that lets you EQ its bass and treble and comes with Google Assistant built-in. It also supports Chromecast. However, the Apple speaker uses Siri and supports Apple AirPlay. Since it's a 360-degree speaker, it also has an outstanding soundstage. Both speakers have been discontinued and may be difficult to find in new condition.

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Variants

  • Home Max (Chalk)
  • Home Max (Charcoal)
  • HomePod (1st generation) (Space Gray)
  • HomePod (1st generation) (White)

Check Price

Chalk
Home Max
Amazon.com
Space Gray
HomePod (1st generation)
Amazon.com
Charcoal
Home Max
Amazon.com
White
HomePod (1st generation)
Amazon.com

Main Differences for
Music

Threshold 

0.10

Music 
 

6.9
7.0

Soundstage 
 

6.3
7.5

EQ 
 

Bass/Treble
No

Full Comparison

Design

Style  

Style Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Google Home Max Style Photo
Compare High-Res
Apple HomePod (1st generation)  Style Photo

RGB Lights  

No
No
Show Text 

Portability 
 

3.7
4.2

Dimensions Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Google Home Max Dimensions Photo
Compare High-Res
Apple HomePod (1st generation)  Dimensions Photo

Volume 
 

606 in³ (9,924 cm³)
203 in³ (3,332 cm³)

Weight 
 

11.7 lbs (5.3 kg)
5.5 lbs (2.5 kg)

Power Source 
 

AC Only
AC Only

One-Hand Carry 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Build Quality 
 

6.0
6.4

Build Quality Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Google Home Max Build Quality Photo
Compare High-Res
Apple HomePod (1st generation)  Build Quality Photo

Material Quality 
 

Decent
Good

Water Resistance 
 

No
No

Dust Resistance 
 

Unspecified
Unspecified

Impact Resistance 
 

No
No

Floats In Water 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Controls 
 

8.0
8.0

Controls Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Google Home Max Controls Photo
Compare High-Res
Apple HomePod (1st generation)  Controls Photo

Controls Photo 2 
 

Compare High-Res
Google Home Max Controls Photo 2
Compare High-Res
Apple HomePod (1st generation)  Controls Photo 2

Ease Of Use 
 

Great
Great

Feedback 
 

Great
Great

Music Play/Pause 
 

Yes (Tactile)
Yes (Tactile)

Call Answer/End 
 

Yes (Tactile)
Yes (Tactile)

Volume Up/Down 
 

Yes (Tactile)
Yes (Tactile)

Track Next/Previous 
 

No
Yes (Tactile)

Microphone On/Off 
 

Yes (Physical)
No

Additional Controls 
 

No
Yes
Show Text 

In The Box 
 

In The Box Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
Google Home Max In The Box Photo
Compare High-Res
Apple HomePod (1st generation)  In The Box Photo
Show Text 
Sound

Frequency Response Accuracy 
 

7.2
7.3

Frequency Response Graph  

 Preview Graph
Google Home Max Frequency Response Graph
 Preview Graph
Apple HomePod (1st generation)  Frequency Response Graph

Slope 
 

-0.28
0.19

Std. Err. 
 

3.00 dB
2.35 dB

Low-Frequency Extension 
 

50.4 Hz
53.4 Hz

High-Frequency Extension 
 

17.2 kHz
19.1 kHz
Show Text 

Raw Frequency Response 
 

Raw Frequency Response Graph  

 Preview Graph
Google Home Max Raw Frequency Response Graph
 Preview Graph
Apple HomePod (1st generation)  Raw Frequency Response Graph

Binaural Recording @ 1m 
 

Binaural Recording @ 2m 
 

Soundstage 
 

6.3
7.5

Directivity Graph  

 Preview Graph
Google Home Max Directivity Graph
 Preview Graph
Apple HomePod (1st generation)  Directivity Graph

Directivity Index 
 

6.44 dB
0.97 dB

Stereo 
 

Yes (when horizontal)
No (mono)
Show Text 

Dynamics 
 

6.9
6.8

Dynamic Range Compression  

 Preview Graph
Google Home Max Dynamic Range Compression
 Preview Graph
Apple HomePod (1st generation)  Dynamic Range Compression

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

95.6 dB SPL
88.5 dB SPL

DRC @ Max Volume 
 

3.88 dB
2.41 dB
Show Text 
Active Features

Battery 
 

0.0
0.0

Battery Life 
 

N/A
N/A

Charge Time 
 

N/A
N/A

Power Saving 
 

No
No

Charging Port 
 

No Battery
No Battery

Battery Powered 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Voice Assistant 
 

8.9
10

Alexa 
 

No
No

Google Assistant 
 

Built-in
No

Speakerphone 
 

Yes
Yes

Siri 
 

No
Built-in

Voice Assistant 
 

Yes
Yes

Voice Activation 
 

Yes
Yes

Microphone Mute 
 

Yes
Yes

Far-Field Performance 
 

Excellent
Excellent

Ambient Noise Performance 
 

Mediocre
Excellent
Show Text 

App 
 

9.3
6.6

App Picture 
 

Compare High-Res
Google Home Max App Picture
Compare High-Res
Apple HomePod (1st generation)  App Picture

App Name 
 

Google Home
Apple Home

iOS 
 

Yes
Yes

Android 
 

Yes
No

EQ 
 

Bass/Treble
No

Stereo Pair Mode 
 

Yes
Yes

Party Mode 
 

Yes
Yes

Multi-Room 
 

Yes
Yes
Show Text 
Connectivity

Wired 
 

Aux Input 
 

Yes
No

USB Audio 
 

No
No

Other Ports 
 

Yes
No
Show Text 

Bluetooth 
 

7.2
0.0

Bluetooth 
 

Yes
No

Bluetooth Version 
 

4.2
No Bluetooth

Bluetooth iOS Latency 
 

246 ms
N/A

Bluetooth Android Latency 
 

197 ms
N/A

Bluetooth Range 
 

170.6 ft (52.0 m)
N/A

Multi-Device Pairing 
 

2 Devices
No
Show Text 

Wi-Fi 
 

8.1
8.1

Wi-Fi Version 
 

Wi-Fi 5
Wi-Fi 5

Wi-Fi Frequency Band 
 

2.4GHz & 5GHz
2.4GHz & 5GHz

Wi-Fi 
 

Yes
Yes

Apple AirPlay 
 

No
Yes

AirPlay Latency 
 

N/A
37 ms

Google Chromecast 
 

Yes
No

Chromecast Latency 
 

46 ms
N/A
Show Text 

Check Price

Chalk
Home Max
Amazon.com
Space Gray
HomePod (1st generation)
Amazon.com
Charcoal
Home Max
Amazon.com
White
HomePod (1st generation)
Amazon.com

Google Home Max

Apple HomePod (1st generation)

Comments

  1. Comparison

Google Home Max vs Apple HomePod (1st generation) : Main Discussion

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