Home Speakers / JBL Authentics 500 vs Apple HomePod (2nd Gen)
JBL Authentics 500 vs Apple HomePod (2nd Gen)
JBL Authentics 500
Alexa and Google at once, plus AirPlay, Chromecast and Roon — no lock-in.
Wins overall by 1.1 points
Quick Verdict
The JBL Authentics 500 is the stronger all-round pick, ahead by 1.1 points. Alexa and Google at once, plus AirPlay, Chromecast and Roon — no lock-in.
The JBL Authentics 500 and Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) are both current-generation home Speaker models, and the Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) is $401 cheaper than the JBL Authentics 500 ($349 vs $749.95). On Connectivity, the JBL Authentics 500 leads (9.8 vs 5.5/10) — Wi-Fi standard, Bluetooth, streaming protocols and physical inputs. On Multiroom, the JBL Authentics 500 leads (9.0 vs 7.5/10) — how well it groups with other speakers around the house. On Voice Assistant, the JBL Authentics 500 leads (9.0 vs 7.5/10) — which assistants are built in and how well they work. Overall, the JBL Authentics 500 scores 8.7/10 across our 8 scoring categories versus 7.6/10 for the Apple HomePod (2nd Gen). Below, we break down the full spec sheet, category-by-category scores, and exactly who should buy which one.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Spec | JBL Authentics 500 | Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $749.95 | $349.00 |
| Release Year | 2023 | 2023 |
| Voice Assistant | Alexa and Google Assistant simultaneously — both wake words are live at once | Siri |
| Drivers | 3.1 channel — 3x 1-inch aluminium-dome tweeters, 3x 2.75-inch midrange woofers and a 6.5-inch down-firing subwoofer | 1x 4-inch high-excursion woofer plus an array of 5 horn-loaded tweeters, each with its own neodymium magnet, and a 4-microphone array |
| Power Output (W) | 270 | Not published by the manufacturer |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax, 2.4/5GHz), plus Ethernet | 802.11n (Wi-Fi 4) |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 with Auracast (SBC and AAC) | 5.0 — for setup and proximity only, NOT a Bluetooth audio input |
| Streaming Protocols | AirPlay 2, Chromecast built-in, Alexa Multi-Room Music, Spotify Connect, Roon Ready and Amazon HD Music | AirPlay 2, native Apple Music and direct Spotify playback |
| Multiroom System | Alexa Multi-Room Music, Chromecast groups and AirPlay 2 — all three major ecosystems | AirPlay 2 and Apple Home |
| Stereo Pairing | Yes | Yes, with a second HomePod 2nd Gen only — it cannot pair with a 1st Gen or a mini |
| Smart Home Hub | No — it is an Alexa and Google endpoint, not a hub. No Matter, Thread or Zigbee | Yes — Apple Home hub, Matter controller and Thread border router |
| Spatial Audio | Yes | Yes |
| Line In | Yes | No |
| Warranty | 12 months | 12 months |
| Colors | Black | Midnight, White |
Category Scores
Sound Quality
The JBL Authentics 500 and Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) are level here, at 9.0/10 each. tonal balance, clarity and detail for the size is not what separates these two — look to the categories where the scores diverge.
Bass
The JBL Authentics 500 leads clearly here, 9.0 against 8.5 — a 0.5-point margin on low-end weight and extension. If that is what you are buying for, the Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Smart Home
The JBL Authentics 500 and Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) are level here, at 8.0/10 each. matter, Thread, Zigbee and hub capability is not what separates these two — look to the categories where the scores diverge.
Multiroom
The JBL Authentics 500 leads clearly here, 9.0 against 7.5 — a 1.5-point margin on how well it groups with other speakers around the house. If that is what you are buying for, the Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Connectivity
The JBL Authentics 500 leads clearly here, 9.8 against 5.5 — a 4.3-point margin on Wi-Fi standard, Bluetooth, streaming protocols and physical inputs. If that is what you are buying for, the Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Design & Build
The JBL Authentics 500 and Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) are level here, at 9.0/10 each. materials, finish and how it looks in a room is not what separates these two — look to the categories where the scores diverge.
Voice Assistant
The JBL Authentics 500 leads clearly here, 9.0 against 7.5 — a 1.5-point margin on which assistants are built in and how well they work. If that is what you are buying for, the Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Value
The JBL Authentics 500 leads clearly here, 7.0 against 6.0 — a 1.0-point margin on performance and features relative to price. If that is what you are buying for, the Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Best For
Choose the JBL Authentics 500 if…
- • Connectivity matters most to you — the JBL Authentics 500 scores 9.8/10 here (Wi-Fi standard, Bluetooth, streaming protocols and physical inputs).
- • Multiroom matters most to you — the JBL Authentics 500 scores 9.0/10 here (how well it groups with other speakers around the house).
- • Voice Assistant matters most to you — the JBL Authentics 500 scores 9.0/10 here (which assistants are built in and how well they work).
- • Value matters most to you — the JBL Authentics 500 scores 7.0/10 here (performance and features relative to price).
- • Bass matters most to you — the JBL Authentics 500 scores 9.0/10 here (low-end weight and extension).
Choose the Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) if…
- • You want to spend less — it's $401 cheaper.
- • Your main use case is home-theater.
Pros & Cons
JBL Authentics 500
Pros
- +The least locked-in speaker here — AirPlay 2, Chromecast, Alexa, Google and Roon all at once
- +The only speaker here running two voice assistants simultaneously
- +270W with a real 6.5-inch subwoofer, and it goes properly loud
- +Dolby Atmos Music plus a 3.5mm aux and USB-C input
Cons
- −Expensive at its $749.95 list, though street prices are often far lower
- −No Matter, Thread or Zigbee — it is an endpoint, not a hub
- −Google Assistant's long-term future is uncertain now that Google has moved its own hardware to Gemini
- −Large and heavy
Apple HomePod (2nd Gen)
Pros
- +Outstanding sound for the size — the five horn-loaded tweeters do real work
- +Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos, and it doubles as an Apple TV 4K sound system
- +Full Apple Home hub with Thread border router
- +Room sensing genuinely adapts to placement
Cons
- −Wi-Fi 4 in a $349 product released in 2023
- −Cannot be used as a Bluetooth speaker — there is no Bluetooth audio input
- −Price rose from $299 to $349 in June 2026
- −No aux input
- −Requires an Apple device to set up, and Siri only fully controls Apple Music
Shop by Need
FAQs
Is the JBL Authentics 500 or Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) better overall?+
Based on our 8-category scoring, the JBL Authentics 500 comes out ahead overall. See the full breakdown in the scores section above — the right pick still depends on which categories matter most for your use case.
Which is better for Connectivity, the JBL Authentics 500 or the Apple HomePod (2nd Gen)?+
The JBL Authentics 500 scores higher on Connectivity (9.8/10 vs 5.5/10) — Wi-Fi standard, Bluetooth, streaming protocols and physical inputs.
Which is better for Multiroom, the JBL Authentics 500 or the Apple HomePod (2nd Gen)?+
The JBL Authentics 500 scores higher on Multiroom (9.0/10 vs 7.5/10) — how well it groups with other speakers around the house.
Which is better for Voice Assistant, the JBL Authentics 500 or the Apple HomePod (2nd Gen)?+
The JBL Authentics 500 scores higher on Voice Assistant (9.0/10 vs 7.5/10) — which assistants are built in and how well they work.
Which is better for Value, the JBL Authentics 500 or the Apple HomePod (2nd Gen)?+
The JBL Authentics 500 scores higher on Value (7.0/10 vs 6.0/10) — performance and features relative to price.
Is the JBL Authentics 500 worth the price difference over the Apple HomePod (2nd Gen)?+
The Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) is the cheaper option at $349 versus $749.95. Whether the pricier model is "worth it" depends on how much you value its lead in Connectivity.
Which is better suited to my use case?+
The JBL Authentics 500 is the better fit if you mainly care about multiroom or voice-control. The Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) is the better fit for home-theater.
What's the warranty on the JBL Authentics 500 vs the Apple HomePod (2nd Gen)?+
The JBL Authentics 500 ships with a 12-month warranty; the Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) ships with a 12-month warranty. Always confirm current terms on the manufacturer's site before buying.
Should I wait for the next model instead of buying either of these?+
If either model is more than two years old, a successor may be close — check the "Latest Model" link on each product page. Otherwise, both are current, well-supported options and there's no strong reason to wait.
Cheaper Option
Amazon Echo Studio (2nd Gen) — $219.99
Specifications and prices for both products last verified . Scores are calculated from published specifications — see how we compare products.