The Original HomePod notoriously difficult to repair, to the point of sometimes requiring a cutting tool. Apple doesn’t cause much grief with second generation model, However. iFixit has tear up new smart speaker and found that it’s much easier to pry open. A large amount of glue has run out — you can get inside with just a small screwdriver, and the internals are similarly accessible. Combine this with the detachable power cord and you can repair at least some parts yourself.
iFixit warns that it hasn’t been viable yet limited software repair. It’s not clear if you can replace the boards and still expect a working HomePod. Even so, it’s clear that Apple considers repairability a top priority for the time being, just like with Standard iPhone 14 and other recent products.
It’s not Apple’s choice but to make the HomePod more debugging friendly. Both federal And status governments are promoting the right to repair mandate. If Apple doesn’t make the speaker easier to maintain, it risks being pushed back politically. And while we wouldn’t count on Apple adding a HomePod to it, Self-service repair programThe design of the second generation makes that prospect more realistic.
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