After releasing the HomePod 2 in early 2023, there have been a number of varying rumors about what’s next for HomePod. Some rumors suggest that Apple is taking a dive into smart home tabletop robotics, while others suggest that Apple is working on a more traditional smart display, one that provides Apple Intelligence for the home, while being cheaper than an iPad.
Apple Intelligence support
Apple’s upcoming smart home product with a display, which is internally known as ‘HomeAccessory’ under codename J490, is expected to have an A18 chipset. This would mean it’d support the full Apple Intelligence feature set and the all new Siri, unlike any existing HomePod model.
HomePod and HomePod mini both use chipsets from Apple Watch models, the S7 and S5 chips respectively. It’s unclear if Apple has short term refresh plans for the normal HomePods to support Apple Intelligence, but regardless, the potential HomePod with display will likely be the first smart home product from Apple with Apple Intelligence.
Square display
According to 9to5Mac sources, Apple’s upcoming product will have a display with a square aspect ratio:
Interestingly, sources told us that the HomeAccessory in its current state has a squarish display, rather than a rectangular format like an iPad.
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman also corroborated this fact, stating that the display will be around 6 inches, and “about the size of two iPhones side by side, with a thick edge around the display.”
Cameras and sensors
Apple’s upcoming product will feature a built-in camera at the top center of the display for FaceTime and over video conferencing apps, unlike some other smart home displays.
Plus, according to Bloomberg, Apple is working on a special system using external sensors to understand how many people are in the room:
Apple also is working on a system that will let the home device sense how many people are nearby. That approach relies in part on external sensors that could be placed in wall outlets in the vicinity of the device, but those accessories may come later or get canceled altogether.
Unique form factor
In the past, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has referred to the product as an “iPad-like smart display that could be magnetically attached to a wall.” Apple plans to offer the product in two colors, silver and black.
In addition, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman recently stated that the product might have an optional speaker stand, one reminiscent of the iMac G4. However, it isn’t clear whether or not that stand will include speakers. I imagine it would.
A new operating system: homeOS
According to new reports from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple will likely be going ahead with the “homeOS” naming for their upcoming operating system for smart home products with displays. This aligns with previous reporting from earlier in the year.
