Amazon hit on a winner with its Echo smart speaker. Made up of a speaker and a digital assistant, the product took off, and soon smart displays were being produced. Apple first put its toes into the smart speaker market with the release of the HomePod in February 2018. But the HomePod failed to take off as the $349 price made it one of the more expensive models in a category where low-end speakers can be purchased during holidays for as low as $25.
