HomePod 2 teardown shows the differences from the 2018 model

“2020 HomePod 2 Teardown Reveals Significant Upgrades Over 2018 Model”

Two years after the original HomePod was discontinued, Apple introduced the second-generation HomePod. The device looks essentially the same as the 2018 model, but with a few minor tweaks. But does the new HomePod look the same inside as the old one, too? That’s exactly what this teardown video shows us.

Teardown shows what’s inside the HomePod 2

YouTube channel Brandon Geekabit (via iPhone in Canada) shared a full teardown video of the second-gen HomePod. While the HomePod 2 looks very similar to the original model on the outside, there are some notable differences on the inside.

From the outside, the most noticeable difference is the display on top of the HomePod. On the new HomePod, the interface looks the same as the HomePod mini, which has a large light in its center that changes color when the user interacts with Siri. On the original HomePod, the light area is much smaller, although the surface area is slightly larger.

As the teardown begins, we already see another difference from the previous model. HomePod 2’s power cord is detachable, but not only that. Apple now uses a figure-8 cable for HomePod, which means it can easily be replaced with any other similar cable.

The base of the HomePod 2 needs to be detached to give the user access to the first set of screws. Interestingly, just like the first generation, the base of the HomePod 2 still leaves ring marks on wood surfaces.

After removing the mesh covering the HomePod and removing the screws on the base, it is now possible to remove the upper part of the speaker. In the original model, there was no easy way to do this. As shown by iFixit, the only way to access the first HomePod’s internals was by cutting into its case. But the differences between the two HomePods don’t stop there.

As previously reported, the new HomePod features simplified hardware. There are five tweeters instead of seven and four microphones instead of six. Still, users seem to agree that the sound quality is about the same as the original HomePod. Another difference is a built-in sensor that shows the current room temperature and humidity.

At the end of the teardown, the YouTuber agrees that despite the similarities, the HomePod 2 is a lot easier to take apart. Unfortunately, this doesn’t mean that users can easily fix it themselves. You can check out the full teardown below: