Starting Friday, Jan. 26, Apple will take preorders for its HomePod smart speaker (sorry Australia, you have to wait until Saturday). It’s unclear what kind of demand the HomePod will have, and just how many Apple has made in expectation, so it’s a good idea to have some sort of game plan going into the preorder.
This relatively small speaker integrates with Siri and is capable of acting as a speakerphone for calls, sending messages and answering random questions. It’s similar to an Amazon Echo ($99.99 at Amazon.com) or a Google Home ($129.00 at Dell Home), only built by Apple for use with Apple products.
HomePod preorder info
Right now, only Apple will begin taking orders for HomePod on Friday. As we find out about more retailers accepting orders, we will be sure to add them to this post. Apple typically begins taking orders for new products at 12:01 am PT, so set your alarm or plan on a really late night. (See what time that is where you are here.) Deliveries will begin on Feb. 9.
HomePod pricing
With Apple positioning the HomePod as a premium speaker that just happens to be smart, the price reflects what one would expect to pay for better sound quality. It’s priced at $349, £319 or AU$499.
Color options
The HomePod comes in two colors: space gray and white. There is only one size, and storage options aren’t something you have to consider.
Website or app?
Ordering from Apple can be done a couple of different ways: The Apple website or the Apple Store app.
The Apple Store App is the most reliable method to preorder a product, however, at time of publication (early Thursday) the HomePod is nowhere to be found in the app itself. Apple’s announcement for the HomePod mentions the app as a method for preordering, but it’s not clear when it will be added.
I recommend checking the app a few times on Thursday, and if the HomePod does show up, favorite it so it’s easier to find once the preorder goes live.
Otherwise, point the browser on your computer to Apple.com/HomePod and start hitting the refresh button as the preorder window gets closer.
