iFixit: new HomePod is more repairable than the first version

The second-generation Homepod is said to be easier to repair than the first. This is evident from a teardown from iFixit. Because much less glue was used, the site’s experts were able to open the top of the speaker with little more than a screwdriver.

The components that are in the speaker are also quite easy to detach, discovered iFixit during the teardown. The power cable is also removable. In contrast to the first Homepod, it should therefore be possible to replace a number of parts yourself.

However, it is still possible that there are software restrictions on repairs, says iFixit. That was the case with some iPhones before Apple decided to support self-repairs as part of its Self Service Repair service. Although the site has not yet extensively tested this option, the question is whether the speaker will still work if things such as printed circuit boards are replaced. As the first test, iFixit replaced the humidity sensor, which caused no audio to come out of the speaker. However, it is not clear whether this part pairing or just a bug.

During the teardown of the first-generation speaker, which appeared in 2018, the outside turned out to be easily removable, but the screws could not loosen the internal elements. To detach the components, the Homepod had to be cut open. It was therefore virtually impossible to repair the device if something broke inside.

In addition to the fact that the new speaker is relatively easy to open, iFixit also noticed that the second HomePod contains an unusually large heatsink for an audio chip. According to the site’s experts, this is a good indication of how seriously Apple takes audio quality, as heat can distort audio.

The Homepod 2nd Gen has been on sale since last week. The device has the S7 soc that is also in the Watch 7 and supports Thread, lossless audio, Dolby Atmos and AirPlay 2. The speaker has a suggested retail price of 349 euros.