HomePod Mini: Changing the Tune for HomeKit?
Leading off Apple’s Hi, Speed event this week was the reveal of HomePod Mini. While the original HomePod focused on providing a premium audio experience (for a premium price), this miniature version opens the door for Apple to be more focused on providing a good smart speaker experience. The $99 price point broadens the appeal to a wider set of consumers – and will make HomeKit much more accessible by providing a much needed more affordable home hub alternative than the original HomePod, an Apple 4K TV, or an iPad.
The NPD Take:
- Considering that ownership of Apple HomePod far trails that of Amazon or Google smart speakers, consumers have voted their preference that premium quality audio is not as important as lower price and more priority on the voice assistant ecosystem. Though still much more expensive than its “mini” counterparts the Amazon Echo Dot and Google Nest Mini, HomePod Mini is much more reasonably priced than the original HomePod and, thus, paves the way to be a great HomeKit hub – something that none of the aforementioned speakers (or any of the other smart speakers and smart displays on the market) can do. This new speaker should appeal to current and future HomeKit users, and encourage more partners to develop HomeKit-compatible products.
Pixel Stand Becomes a Smart Home Hub of Sorts
For anyone (anyone?) who owns a Pixel Stand, Google is rolling an update to the Android 11 OS that adds smart home control features. This added functionality is similar to Android 11’s power menu, providing users with shortcut access to home automation features so they can more easily control their thermostat or turn on the lights. When a Pixel device is on the stand, users will be able to see quick controls simply by tapping on the phone display.
The NPD Take:
- Consumers will no longer have to take that pesky step of taking their Pixel device off the stand to control their smart home. However, apparently the control is limited to controlling individual devices (say, individual light bulbs rather than a room full of light bulbs). It is a nice, but not earth-shattering update for Pixel Stand users.
Lenovo Launches $50 Smart Clock Essential
Lenovo launched the $50 Smart Clock Essential - $30 cheaper than the original Smart Clock (when it isn’t on sale, of course), and still offering Google Assistant. The device acts as an alarm clock (cue the surprise…) and a nightlight, and displays the time, day, temperature, and weather – as well as plays news briefings, podcasts, and music. With Google Assistant, it also adds some audio-based smart home control.
The NPD Take:
- Yes, the Smart Clock (and now Essential) have displays, but they still lack in smarts. Given frequent promotions for smart displays like those from Google or Amazon, it is hard to imagine choosing the Smart Clock (Essential) – unless you are truly in the market for simplicity and basic voice assistant functionality.