It’s always important to read the fine print. While reviewing the new $329 Wiim Ultra network music streamer, I made an assumption, as did many others, that it would be compatible with Apple’s AirPlay 2 wireless streaming protocol. After all, previous Wiim streamers like the Wiim Mini, Wiim Pro, Wiim Pro Plus, and Wiim Amp all support AirPlay. However, upon reviewing the Wiim Ultra’s official reviewer’s guide, I discovered that neither Apple AirPlay nor Apple HomeKit were mentioned. I double-checked the original press release for the Ultra’s May 9 launch, and AirPlay was still absent.
My initial assumption was that I had missed something, but it turned out I wasn’t alone. Many other sites had made the same assumption. This led to a lot of confusion and raised questions about why Wiim would omit such a prominent wireless music feature for its flagship streamer. Finally, in a blog post on the official wiimhome.com website (originally published on May 9 and updated on July 1), the mystery was solved. The post explained that the Wiim Ultra was not initially going to support AirPlay, but the feature will be available via a software update at an unspecified time.
While the explanation clarifies the situation, it does raise concerns about Wiim’s communication strategy. The lack of clear communication from the outset regarding the absence of AirPlay has caused unnecessary confusion and frustration for reviewers and potential buyers. Adding to the confusion, Amazon’s Wiim Ultra product page explicitly states that the device is incompatible with AirPlay. This statement is likely to further alarm consumers who are expecting AirPlay functionality.
I have reached out to Wiim for more information on the AirPlay situation and will update this post as soon as I receive a response.
