Apple's long-awaited entry into the voice-assistant speaker market is finally approaching, but can it compete with Amazon and Google?

The voice-assistant speaker market is booming thanks to Amazon Echo and Google Home. Now, Apple is hopping in with HomePod, their take on the voice-assistant speaker. The 7-inch speaker comes equipped with a top-mounted woofer, seven tweeters, and six microphones capable of hearing you from across the room. Apple says you can tell HomePod to send a message, set a timer, play a podcast, check the news, sports, traffic and weather, and control a wide range of HomeKit smart home accessories. Multi-room audio functionality will be added sometime later this year as part of a free update.

Right now, Apple is touting the speaker's Siri and Apple Music functionality, but it remains unclear how open the tech giant will be with third-party developers. Both Amazon and Google have opened up their speakers to third-parties, giving Echo and Home products more features than HomePod will launch with. In terms of gaming, we're seeing Amazon work on incorporating functionality into triple-A titles like Destiny 2.

HomePod will also cost significantly more than an Echo or Home, which start as low as $49.99. HomePod, on the other hand, will set you back $349.99, which is more expensive than the high-end Echo and Home models. With limited functionality compared to its competitors, the price point seems insanely high.

Apple HomePod launches February 9 and is available for pre-order starting this Friday, January 26.