Apple’s HomePod is appreciated by many as one of the best smart home speakers. However, many rival brands like Amazon and Google have introduced these smart home devices with displays, while Apple has yet to follow suit. However, according to the latest Power On newsletter by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple is gearing up to launch its first-ever smart home display that would directly rival the Echo Show or the Google Nest.
According to the report, we’ll get a lower-end smart display (codenamed J490), a higher-end device with a robotic arm, and a larger display (codename J595). Both devices are slated to support Apple Intelligence features and will be powered by a new operating system named homeOS.
It's also expected that both the HomePod devices will feature a built-in camera, enabling compatibility with video conferencing applications like FaceTime. Furthermore, the camera could have hand gesture support, providing a hands-free method of interacting with the device.
Last week, 9to5Mac reported that the next-generation HomePod will include the A18 chip, which is also powering the latest iPhone 16, for Apple Intelligence with a squarish display. It is also expected it is expected that the product can run daily apps such as Notes, Home and Calendar, among others.
On the other hand, the higher version of the HomePod with a robotic arm is likely to cost upwards of $100. Gurman notes that it can be used as a video conferencing machine, allowing the members to move around during the meeting. As for their release timeline, the lower-end HomePod is expected to launch in 2025.
Meanwhile, the HomePod with a robotic limb should be available by 2026.
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