As nifty as the HomePod may be, it can possibly leave white rings on wood surfaces with an oil or wax finish.
The discovery was noted in reviews by Wirecutter and Pocket-lint as well as highlighted by VentureBeat, with at least one user sharing the problem on Twitter.
Pocket-lint’s Stuart Miles offered the following statement about the issue in his review:
“For our tests we placed the speaker on a solid oak kitchen worktop treated with Danish oil.
Within 20 minutes the HomePod had caused a white discoloured ring to appear on the wood that some days later has faded, although still hasn’t completely disappeared.
We subsequently tested the HomePod on other materials: the same wood that hadn’t been treated with Danish oil and a regular lacquered desk and haven’t seen the same issues.”
Apple has stated that it is “not unusual” for a speaker with a silicone base to leave a “mild mark” when placed on certain oiled or waxed surfaces, suggesting the rings are caused by chemical interactions with treated wood.
The company also stated that “the marks can improve over several days after the speaker is removed from the wood surface.”
If the rings don’t dissipate, Apple recommends “cleaning the surface with the manufacturer’s suggested oiling method.”
It’s presently unknown as to whether the issue is limited to treated wood, or if the issue could lead to long-term damage to the HomePod’s rubber base. For now, it’s recommended to not place your HomePod on a surface with an oil or wax finish, if at all possible.
Wirecutter also noted that there was no visible damage when placing the HomePod on glass, granite countertop, nice fiberboard, polyurethane-sealed wood, and IKEA bookcases.
Recently, Apple posted a “Cleaning and taking care of HomePod” support document that includes a section called “Where to place HomePod.” This section includes details on the silicone base of the device and warns that it can cause marks on some wooden surfaces.
The HomePod is designed for indoor use only.
Apple also suggests users avoid putting the HomePod near heat sources and liquids, and advises users that it can be cleaned with a damp cloth.
If you’ve seen this issue with your own HomePod, please let us know about your experience in the comments section.
Via MacRumors, Wirecutter, Pocket-lint, VentureBeat and Twitter