It is Friday, February 3 in New Zealand and Australia, which means it is the official launch day of the second-generation HomePod in those countries. Customers in New Zealand and Australia are always first to get new devices because of time zone differences, though one lucky MacRumors reader was able to get his speaker yesterday.

HomePod 2 White and Midnight Feature Purple Blue
Customers who pre-ordered a ‌HomePod‌ when the device was announced on January 18 are starting to receive their orders, and photos and first impressions will soon be showing up across the web on Instagram, Twitter, Reddit, and the MacRumors forums.

New Zealand does not have official Apple retail locations, so customers in Australia will be the first to be able to purchase a new ‌HomePod‌ in an Apple Store. Available store stock in Australia will give us an idea of what we can expect in other Apple Stores worldwide. The new ‌HomePod‌ is expected to be readily available.

Priced at $299, the second-generation ‌HomePod‌ is similar in size, function, and sound quality to the original model, but it does feature a larger touch display at the top, humidity and temperature sensors, and a U1 chip. Reviews for the speaker have been largely positive.

Following New Zealand and Australia, sales and deliveries of the ‌HomePod‌ will begin in Asia, Europe, and then North America, and Apple Stores will be opening at their regular times for walk-in purchases and so customers can pick up reserved devices.

Popular Stories

Report Highlights Danger of Using AirTags for Tracking Dogs

AirTags may be a convenient way for tracking dogs that might get off leash or otherwise lost, but there are dangers associated with the practice, as outlined by a report from The Wall Street Journal. At 1.26 inches in diameter, AirTags are able to fit easily on a dog’s collar, but that size also makes the tracking devices small enough to swallow, at least for a medium to large-sized dog, and …

Apple Launching All-New CarPlay Experience Later This Year With These 5 Features

In June 2022, Apple previewed the next generation of CarPlay, promising deeper integration with vehicle functions like A/C and FM radio, support for multiple displays across the dashboard, personalization options, and more. Apple says the first vehicles with support for the next-generation CarPlay experience will be announced in late 2023, with committed automakers including Acura, Audi,…

Five New iOS Features Coming to Your iPhone Later This Year

Apple has previously announced several upcoming iOS features that are expected to be added to the iPhone this year. Some of the features could be introduced with iOS 16.4, which should enter beta testing soon, while others will arrive later in the year. Below, we have recapped five new iOS features that are expected to launch in 2023, such as an Apple Pay Later financing option for purchases …

Kuo: Apple to Release Foldable iPad With Carbon Fiber Kickstand in 2024

Apple will launch a foldable iPad with a carbon fiber kickstand sometime next year, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. In a series of tweets, Kuo said he expects an “all-new design foldable iPad” to be the next big product launch in the iPad lineup, with no other major iPad releases in the next nine to 12 months. The analyst said he…

The Next Big Apple Silicon Device May Not Be a Mac or iPad

Apple’s next device with an Apple silicon chip may not be a Mac or an iPad, but rather an advanced external display, according to recent reports. The display, which is rumored to arrive this year, is expected to sit somewhere between the $1,599 Studio Display and the $4,999 Pro Display XDR – but more exact information about the device’s positioning and price point is as yet unknown. While …

New HomePod Can Still Stain Some Wooden Surfaces

When the original HomePod launched in 2018, it was discovered that the speaker can leave white rings on some wooden surfaces. Now, well-known YouTuber Marques Brownlee has confirmed that the issue persists to a lesser extent with the new HomePod. In a side-by-side test, he showed that the white second-generation HomePod left a white ring on the wooden surface that he placed the speaker on,…

Apple Violated U.S. Labor Laws With Anti-Leak Email

Apple violated United States labor laws when it sent out an email warning employees about leaking confidential information about the company, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) said today in a ruling shared by Bloomberg. Rules that Apple has established around leaks “tend to interfere with, restrain or coerce employees” from the exercise of their rights under the National Labor…