Report: Apple is resurrecting its high-end HomePod smart speaker - Ars Technica

Bloomberg's newsletter also said the new HomePod "will be closer to the original HomePod in terms of size and audio performance, rather than a new HomePod Mini.".

It's unclear why Apple would bring back the HomePod after officially announcing its discontinuation (Apple was still providing software updates and support). With its high price, it was hard for Apple's Siri-driven, high-end smart speaker to compete with the likes of Amazon Echo and Google Nest, despite offering superior sound quality.

And since its discontinuation, there have been some holes in Apple's speaker lineup that the HomePod Mini can't fill.

For example, the HomePod Mini doesn't support Dolby Atmos 5.1 or 7.1 virtual surround sound for Apple TV home theater setups.

For Apple aficionados craving something more advanced than the HomePod Mini, the revival of the HomePod is an exciting prospect.

If Apple does bring the speaker back, it will hopefully add more flexibility, such as Bluetooth streaming, better integration with Android and non-Apple services, stronger voice assistant capabilities, and maybe even a lower price.

If Apple can deliver those sorts of updates, there's hope that the HomePod can find a more permanent home in the smart speaker market than its predecessor.