To help us provide you with free impartial advice, we may earn a commission if you buy through links on our site. Learn more

The Apple HomePod has dropped by £40 at Currys PC World and John Lewis

You can now pick up Apple's smart speaker for only £279

You know that old saying about waiting for a bus, then two come along at once? Well, it applies to HomePod deals too, it seems. Apple’s first stab at a smart speaker was a bit on the pricey side but it’s suddenly got a whole lot more enticing: the Apple HomePod has just been discounted by £40 at both Currys PC World and John Lewis.

Apple’s one and only (so far, at least) addition to the smart speaker market certainly isn’t without its faults. As you can read in Jonathan Bray’s full review, the HomePod is hamstrung in a number of different ways. Somewhat predictably, a lot of its features are limited to Apple services.

If you want to ask it to play music with your voice, for instance, you’re limited to Apple Music, although it is possible to stream tracks for other music services to the speaker using AirPlay. This is a speaker that’s great for iPhone owners but not so much for those embedded in other ecosystems.

But there are some great things about the HomePod and those largely surround the incredibly high-quality audio it delivers. Crisp and clear, it’s not just remarkable for a speaker of such a compact size, but for one with a price tag of £319 full stop. And, because of clever tech that detects where you’ve put it in a room, it will never sound over-bassy or light on the low tones.

One £40 drop in price later, and suddenly the HomePod seems like terrific value for money. So if you’re looking for a smart speaker and you own an iPhone, head to Currys PC World. Or head to John Lewis… it’s up to you! Or for a comprehensive guide to the best smart speakers out there, take a look at our best smart speakers list.