Apple's HomePod is going on sale in Japan on August 23rd

What you need to know

HomePod goes on sale in Japan on August 23rd
It'll cost 32,800 yen.
Both White and Space Gray colors will be available.

Apple has confirmed via press release that its HomePod smart speaker will go on sale in Japan on August 23rd. It will cost 32,800 yen, which roughly equates to the same $299 price U.S. customers currently pay. Just like other countries, Japanese buyers will also be able to choose between White and Space Gray color options when making their purchase. AppleCare+ will also be available for 3,800 yen.

In its press release Apple was keen to remind buyers of HomePod's audio quality and room-filling sound.

Apple's innovative wireless speaker, HomePod, will be available for pre-order in Japan today and will be available on Friday, August 23. HomePod delivers great audio quality wherever you go, and Apple's proprietary audio technology and advanced software combine to deliver high-quality sound that fills your room.

Japan joins an increasing number of countries in which HomePod is available. The speaker initially launched in the United States, Australia, and United Kingdom, but many more have followed suit since then. If HomePod isn't available in your country just yet, don't lose hope – it's arriving in new countries all the time.

Apple remains committed to improving the abilities of HomePod, too. With the release of iOS 13 this fall it will add support for 100,000 radio stations while also improving the initial setup and configuration experience for new users. HomePod also gained support for AirPlay 2 and improved multi-room audio following its initial release.

Apple has updated its Japanese online store with more information about HomePod including images and technical specifications. That's also where you will be able to place your pre-order for delivery once August 23rd rolls around.

Oliver Haslam has written about Apple and the wider technology business for more than a decade with bylines on How-To Geek, PC Mag, iDownloadBlog, and many more. He has also been published in print for Macworld, including cover stories. At iMore, Oliver is involved in daily news coverage and, not being short of opinions, has been known to 'explain' those thoughts in more detail, too.

Having grown up using PCs and spending far too much money on graphics card and flashy RAM, Oliver switched to the Mac with a G5 iMac and hasn't looked back. Since then he's seen the growth of the smartphone world, backed by iPhone, and new product categories come and go. Current expertise includes iOS, macOS, streaming services, and pretty much anything that has a battery or plugs into a wall. Oliver also covers mobile gaming for iMore, with Apple Arcade a particular focus. He's been gaming since the Atari 2600 days and still struggles to comprehend the fact he can play console quality titles on his pocket computer.