Prior to the launch of Apple HomePod, it has been reported that the repair cost of the smart speaker is almost equivalent to buying a replacement. Those who have already purchased the HomePod are expected to be very careful in handling the speaker, in fear that even the slightest damage would cost them another $200. It's a good thing however that the company is apparently accepting repair services for only $29, that is, if the damaged HomePod falls under specific repair-eligibility criteria.
As reported by 9to5Mac, Apple has sent a memo to its authorized stores and service providers regarding the HomePod repair. The memo includes directions that the employees should follow in checking the speaker subjected for repair, and interestingly, the customer will only need to shell out $29 for some rare instances that the HomePod's power cable would be damaged or detached. The item will then be sent to a repair facility as the owner waits for a few days until the HomePod is ready and fully functional again.
To note, the $29 repair cost is a flat-rate, out-of-warranty fee, meaning that the Apple HomePod's cable repair fee is available to everyone at all times. The affected HomePod does not have to be within Apple's limited one-year warranty period, nor should be covered under AppleCare +.
A cheaper repair fee for a damaged power cable of the Apple HomePod is actually not that surprising, according to MacRumors, as the smart speaker is designed only to sit in a stable spot. It is not expected that the cords will be damaged in this case, but for rare incidents that the power cable was accidentally detached, that is when Apple allows a $29-repair.
Even as the Apple HomePod power cable can be disconnected manually by the owner, there are still risks of getting the internal components of the speaker damaged. Of course, the process of detaching the cable from the speaker might affect the connection. It is up to the Apple service provider's visual-mechanical inspection if the damage to the power cable and other external components will be covered by the cheaper $29 repair cost. If not, the customer should be ready to prepare at least $279 for an out-of-warranty whole-speaker replacement fee.
