The original HomePod was famously difficult to repair, necessitating the use of cutting tools on occasion. Nevertheless, Apple isn’t causing nearly as much controversy with the second-generation iPhone. iFixit has disassembled the new smart speaker and determined that it is considerably easier to pry open than previously thought. The adhesive is gone, and you can go inside with just a screwdriver, and the interior components are similarly accessible. When combined with the removable power lead, it should be possible to repair at least some parts yourself.
iFixit warns that it has not tested for potential software limitations on fixes. It’s unclear whether you can swap out circuit boards and still expect a working HomePod. Still, it’s clear that Apple prioritises repairability this time around, as it does with the normal iPhone 14 and other recent devices.
Apple doesn’t have much of an option except to make the HomePod more repairable. Both the federal and state governments are advocating for right-to-repair legislation. Apple worried a political backlash if it did not make the speaker easy to repair. While we don’t expect Apple to include the HomePod in its Self Service Repair programme, the second-design generation’s makes that possibility more likely.
