This Monday, HomePod completes one month as a discontinued Apple product. Different than the iMac Pro, which vanished from the store within 13 days, the white HomePod is still being sold almost everywhere in the U.S.
It was March 12 when Apple announced that the original HomePod would be discontinued, as it shifted its focus to the HomePod mini. Here’s what the company said back then:
HomePod mini has been a hit since its debut last fall, offering customers amazing sound, an intelligent assistant, and smart home control all for just $99. We are focusing our efforts on the mini model. We are discontinuing the original HomePod, it will continue to be available while supplies last through the Apple Online Store, Apple Retail Stores, and Apple Authorized Resellers. Apple will provide customers with software updates and service and support through Apple Care.
At that time, the Space Gray HomePod was already gone, but the white one remained on the Apple Online Store and in most Apple retail stores.
After a month, this continues to be a sad reality for Apple’s first smart speaker in years. As my colleague Ben Lovejoy wrote, HomePod is Apple’s most misunderstood product and although many people like it, it’s clear to see why it wasn’t the mainstream hit Apple had hoped.
The YouTuber Michael Kukielka, as known as DetroitBORG, bought at least two HomePods after Apple discontinued the product, and by his surprise, the models he bought were from the launch stock… three years ago.
Combining all of this, it’s clear why Apple stopped selling the product. Apple also dropped the HomePod price by $50 and heavily discounted it for employees.
Now we have to wait and see how long Apple will let a discontinued product live because as of now, it seems the white HomePod could stay for a while longer.
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