This year, Apple released a new HomePod that bears a striking resemblance to the original model unveiled in 2017, which was later discontinued in 2021.
Renowned Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has reported that a redesigned HomePod will be launched by Apple in the first half of 2024. This updated version is expected to feature a 7-inch display, setting it apart from the original model released in 2017.
Kuo mentioned in a brief post on Medium that the upcoming HomePod model with a 7-inch display is expected to offer more seamless integration with Apple’s other hardware products, thanks to the inclusion of the new display.
It’s unclear whether Apple is currently developing a single device that would combine the features of the iPad, Apple TV, and HomePod. Kuo’s statement only suggests that the upcoming HomePod model with a 7-inch display will enable deeper integration with other Apple hardware products. However, it is not uncommon for Apple to explore innovative product ideas and bring them to market in the future.
天馬首度打入Apple供應鏈，為Apple再造智能家庭策略的新受益者 / Tianma is set to debut in Apple’s supply chain, becoming a new beneficiary of Apple’s revamped smart home strategyhttps://t.co/WA2qAnt95o
— 郭明錤 (Ming-Chi Kuo) (@mingchikuo) March 10, 2023
According to reports, Tianma is expected to be the exclusive supplier of the display for the redesigned HomePod, benefiting from Apple’s updated smart home strategy. If the upcoming HomePod model’s collaboration between Apple and Tianma is successful, it is rumored that the Chinese display manufacturer may also be tapped to supply iPad panels in the future, further expanding its partnership with Apple.
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman was among the first to suggest that Apple is working on new HomePod models with displays and cameras, and has also reported on the company’s development of multi-touch functionality for the device. It is rumored that Apple is also planning to re-evaluate its smart home strategy, with plans to create a combined Apple TV and HomePod device, as well as a HomePod with a screen mounted on a robotic arm. While the current HomePod already runs a variant of tvOS, there are indications that Apple may be working on a new “homeOS” platform to integrate its various smart home devices and services.
Source: Medium