Apple HomePod release: Smart speaker finally goes on sale to take on Amazon and Google

Apple hopes its speaker can stand out from the pack with its super sound

Customers look at The Apple HomePod, which is now available in stores in the US, UK and Australia, at Apple Store on Regent Street (Antony Jones/Getty Images for Apple)

Apple is finally selling the HomePod, the smart speaker that's hiding Siri inside.

The speaker was first introduced last summer, at Apple's WWDC, when it said it would be released by the end of the year. But then the HomePod had to be delayed, until it finally came out today.

It brings an end to a long wait for Apple's take on the smart speaker. Almost every one of its major competitors – including Google and Amazon – have already released one of their own, but Apple hopes the HomePod will stand out in its commitment to sound quality.

Initially, the speaker is only being released in the UK, the US and Australia. It's coming to France, Germany and Canada in the spring, and is expected to roll out to other countries some time after that.

Deliveries in some countries are already delayed, amid a run of orders. US customers can't buy the HomePod for immediate delivery from the website, though many of its stores still have them available.

At this stage, it's not really possible to get any deals on the HomePod – everywhere is selling it at its recommended price of £319. That includes the Apple Store website as well as its high street shops, as well as third-party retailers like John Lewis.