Bose
Bose Home Speaker 500
Smart/Portable · $549
86
/ 100
From $549
VS
Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) wins by 2
Apple
Apple HomePod (2nd Gen)
Spatial Audio · Siri · Matter hub
88
/ 100
From $299
Specdex verdict
Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, Bose Home Speaker 500 lands at 86 and Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) at 88. That puts Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) ahead by 2 points — a narrow margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.
Pick Bose Home Speaker 500 if…
- ✓Easy multi-room with ecosystem
- ✓App EQ on modern models
- ✓USB-C/AUX input on some
Pick Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) if…
- ✓Best mono speaker sound at this price
- ✓Built-in Matter hub
- ✓Adaptive room sensing
Bose Home Speaker 500 86
vs 88 Apple HomePod (2nd Gen)
Score breakdown
Bose Home Speaker 500
86 sound 86
features 84
design 88
ecosystem 84
ease 0
value 0
Apple HomePod (2nd Gen)
88 sound 92
features 88
design 0
ecosystem 0
ease 96
value 84
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | Bose Home Speaker 500 | Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) |
|---|---|---|
| Drivers | — | 4″ woofer + 5 tweeters |
| Connectivity | — | Wi-Fi 6, BT 5.0, Thread, Matter |
| Voice | — | Siri |
| Spatial | — | Dolby Atmos Music |
| Trueplay tuning | — | Auto room-sensing |
| Weight | — | 2.3 kg |
Bose Home Speaker 500
Pros
- +Easy multi-room with ecosystem
- +App EQ on modern models
- +USB-C/AUX input on some
Cons
- −Brand ecosystem lock-in
- −Subscription features on some
- −Bass limits at lower sizes
Apple HomePod (2nd Gen)
Pros
- +Best mono speaker sound at this price
- +Built-in Matter hub
- +Adaptive room sensing
Cons
- −Apple ecosystem only
- −No 3.5mm input
- −No Spotify Connect (still 2025!)
FAQ: Bose Home Speaker 500 vs Apple HomePod (2nd Gen)
Which is better, Bose Home Speaker 500 or Apple HomePod (2nd Gen)? +
Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) scores 88 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 2. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is Bose Home Speaker 500 worth the price? +
At $549, Bose Home Speaker 500 delivers a Specdex score of 86 — strongest in design.
Is Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) worth the price? +
At $299, Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) delivers a Specdex score of 88 — strongest in ease.
Does Bose Home Speaker 500 or Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) last longer? +
Based on our long-term update and support ratings, both ship with multi-year support. Battery and reliability scores are visible in the breakdown above.