Apple’s answer to the Echo adapts sound direction with 360-degree sensors

HomePod is a powerful speaker that adapts to wherever it's playing, and together with Apple Music, gives users instant access to one of the world's largest music catalogues.

With Siri onboard, users can control it through natural voice interaction.

The HomePod aims to take the listening experience to a whole new level.

HomePod combines Apple-engineered audio technology and advanced software to deliver the highest-fidelity sound throughout the room, no matter where it's placed.

On their website, Apple developers say, "We built the high-excursion woofer with a custom amplifier to play a wide range of deep, rich bass.

"A powerful motor drives the diaphragm a full 20 mm, remarkable for a speaker this size.

"Meanwhile, HomePod uses an advanced algorithm that continuously analyses the music and dynamically tunes the low frequencies for smooth, distortion‑free sound.

Apple claims that HomePod has a unique array of seven beamforming tweeters that precisely focus the sound, from very narrow beams all the way to true, consistent 360º audio.

The aim is to direct those beams throughout the room, so the tweeters can create an immersive sense of space, no matter where HomePod is placed or where user sitting.

An Apple-designed A8 chip powers the most complex audio features in HomePod.

Equipped with spatial awareness, HomePod is smart enough to sense where in the room it's placed or that you added another HomePod.

It responds to all this information automatically, so all a user has to do is listen.

If there are more than one of these devices in the room they will sense each other and balance out the sound coverage accordingly.

The speakers also communicate with each other through AirPlay 2.

The device can be controlled either through Siri or touch.

The HomePod also aims to be a helpful home assistant for everyday household questions and tasks.

It will be able to act as a hub for controlling smart home accessories and devices via voice commands.

This smart speaker from Apple could end up being a game-changer within the smart home industry.