Would you buy the Apple HomePod if it wasn't locked to Apple Music?

So, the Apple HomePod is finally out. Apple's own smart speaker... or just call it speaker with Siri? In any case, three things are known about it: it sounds great, it's a bit pricey, and it only streams music from Apple Music (alternatively, you can use AirPlay manually, but you know... every time!).

While it's no surprise that Apple released a product that is locked to its ecosystem, the fact that Apple Music is the only service that can play tunes on this speaker seems to be the major gripe for plenty of users, critics, and reviewers. So, we thought — would this be the only thing to keep people from buying a HomePod?

When you think about it — its $350 price is not incredibly outrageous when one considers Google's Home Max, which costs $400 more. And with its omnidirectional audio and deep bass, the HomePod seems to have the upper hand in sound. Sure, the Google Home Max still has the upper hand with AI, which may be a priority for you and that's fair enough.

But on to our question:

Would you buy the HomePod if it worked on 3rd party streaming services like Spotify, Google Play Music, Deezer, Pandora, et cetera?

Would you buy the HomePod if it streamed from 3rd party services?

Yes, I would

17.59%

I might consider it then

23.62%

No, no, still a no

53.77%

I don't care for that, I've already got / am buying one!

5.03%

View Full Bio

Preslav, a member of the PhoneArena team since 2014, is a mobile technology enthusiast with a penchant for integrating tech into his hobbies and work. Whether it's writing articles on an iPad Pro, recording band rehearsals with multiple phones, or exploring the potential of mobile gaming through services like GeForce Now and Steam Link, Preslav's approach is hands-on and innovative. His balanced perspective allows him to appreciate both Android and iOS ecosystems, focusing on performance, camera quality, and user experience over brand loyalty.