Apple’s £319 smart speaker can ‘ruin wooden furniture’

APPLE’S new £319 smart speakers are leaving white rings on wooden furniture.

Homepod owners who complained were furious when the tech giant said the only way to avoid the stains was to move the unit or re-polish the furniture.

One fed-up shopper said a mark like the ring left by a hot mug on a wooden surface appeared after just 20 minutes.

Apple says the problem is down to the Homepod’s silicon base reacting with furniture oil.

And its support page now warns customers: “Place your Homepod on a different surface.

“It is not unusual for any speaker with a silicone base to leave mild marks on some wooden surfaces. They will often go away after several days when the speaker is removed.

“If not, wiping the surface gently with a soft damp or dry cloth may remove the marks. If they persist, clean the surface with the manufacturer’s recommended cleaning process.”

The flaw was first spotted by review website Wirecutter which said: “This really under- mines the design of the Homepod, especially if you were thinking of displaying it on some prized piece of furniture.

“It will surely be a sore point for many potential buyers.”

Stuart Miles, founder of gadget site Pocket Lint, said: “It’s not a problem that will affect everyone, because not everyone will place it on a wooden surface but it’s far from ideal.

“If you were one of those people who were on the fence about buying one, this could understandably put you off.”

At £319, the muchhyped speaker is three and a half times more expensive than the budget £89.99 Amazon Echo and £190 more than the £129 Google Home.

MARK Ring left by speaker on wood