Apple’s HomePod may not be a standout product in the iPhone maker’s lineup, but a major upgrade could be coming soon, specifically a built-in “iPad-like” display. But such smart speakers won’t be available until at least 2025, argues Bloomberg’s Mark Garman in the latest edition of his weekly Power On newsletter.
Over the years, Garman has reported on several smart home products Apple is considering, including a hybrid device that combines Apple TV, FaceTime and HomePod, and an iPad-like smart display that attaches magnetically to the wall. He said the company has been “indecisive” about the direction of its smart home products for years, and while Apple hasn’t made much progress on these other ideas. teeth The company is reportedly working on introducing an iPad-like display to its smart speaker lineup.
“We’re hearing that Apple continues to pursue this idea and has begun early efforts with overseas suppliers, including China’s BYD, which makes some iPad models,” Garman said.
The project is reportedly being led by Apple’s top hardware executives Matt Costella and Brian Lynch. In addition to HomePod upgrades, Garman also said Apple is working on a range of other unexpected products, including smart glasses, AirPods with cameras, and a health-monitoring fitness ring similar to the Oura Ring and Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy Ring. he claimed.
This new report has been around for a while now, saying that the next version of Apple’s smart speaker will feature a 7-inch display similar to the Amazon Echo Show 8, designed to effectively integrate the iPad and HomePod. This confirms the rumors that are being spread. Another clue to its effect: Earlier this month, 9To5Mac discovered code within tvOS 17.4 developer beta 3 that references a new device called the “Z314,” which could be the next HomePod.
The developer beta includes the SwiftUI framework and tools for UI debugging iOS apps for HomePod. This is strange because even though the HomePod runs the same tvOS as the Apple TV, it doesn’t include any UI features. But if Apple is gearing up to release a new HomePod with an attached display, it would explain the need to build this kind of his UI framework.
Naturally, a HomePod with a screen brings a lot of benefits to users, while also making Apple’s smart speaker more competitive with Amazon’s and Google’s smart displays. With its display and connectivity to home apps, HomePod acts as a versatile smart home hub. Add a camera to this and it doubles up as a handy device for friends and family to FaceTim him.
After discontinuing the HomePod in 2021, Apple later reversed course and launched a new full-size HomePod last year. The smaller HomePod mini, on the other hand, hasn’t received any hardware updates since hitting shelves in 2020.
