Apple’s £320 smart speaker quickly making mark in homes
APPLE’S new smart speaker damages wooden furniture in 20 minutes, customers have complained.
The California tech giant has admitted that its new Homepod, which costs £319 and went on sale last Friday, leaves white stains on wood.
It has put the “mild marks” down to oils in the Homepod’s silicon base that interact with wooden surfaces. So far the only remedy Apple has recommended to stop the damage is moving the Homepod onto another surface. The device is billed as a high-end answer to Amazon’s Echo speakers. It is powered by the Siri assistant, providing voice control and the ability to read the news, answer questions and access music.
The problem with the device was reported by Wirecutter, a technology website. “This really undermines the design aspect of the Homepod, especially if you were thinking of displaying it on some prized piece of furniture,” wrote John Chase, a reviewer on the website.
A buyer complained on Twitter that the device “left rings on my wood furniture in less than 20 minutes of use”.
Pocket-lint, another technology website, also confirmed the speed at which the damage could appear and said the marks failed to disappear after several days. “We’ll have to sand and then re-oil our worktop. It’s certainly something to be careful of,” said Stuart Miles, the website’s founder.
On its customer support page, Apple said: “It is not unusual for any speaker with a vibration-damping silicone base to leave mild marks when placed on some wooden surfaces.”
Apple said the marks should disappear over several days, and if not, “wiping the surface gently with a soft damp or dry cloth may remove the marks”.
It added: “If you’re concerned about this, we recommend placing your Homepod on a different surface.”