Apple is reportedly working on a new smart home product for launch in 2025, according to sources including Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman.
While details remain speculative, it looks set to essentially be a souped-up HomePod with a touchscreen, working as a combined smart home controller, family FaceTime device, music player, and more. Guesses at the product’s name include HomePod Video, HomePod Pro, and HomePad – let’s take a look at what the device is rumored to offer.
7-inch display: reportedly, the device will feature a square-ish screen that measures 7 inches diagonally. Not as big as an iPad then, but plenty big enough for an on-screen keyboard and plenty of controls. We’d love to see it take design cues from the iMac G4, but it will likely be more minimal.
New homeOS interface: much like CarPlay, we might see a dedicated interface made specifically for this device. Supposedly, it’ll look like a combination of watchOS and the iPhone’s Standby mode, dynamically adjusting based on your proximity to the screen.
Modular accessories: this seems very un-Apple, but the company is rumored to be developing various accessories to adapt the ‘HomePad’ for different spaces and uses, such as wall mounts and speaker bases. These modular add-ons could help keep the base device affordable.
Apple Intelligence: unlike the current HomePod and Apple TV, this next product is expected to be compatible with Apple Intelligence. That means an upgraded Siri experience that can handle more complex tasks and abilities.
There’s not much to go on in terms of price or release date just yet, but it will be interesting to see how Apple positions a product like this amongst smart home devices from competitors like Google and Amazon. Watch this space!