Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has floated the idea of a new Apple HomePod, expected next year, featuring a 7-inch touchscreen. Portal reports Border.
According to Kuo, the forthcoming device will forge a closer bond with other Apple products, signaling a notable shift in Apple’s strategy for smart home offerings. It could function as a wall‑to‑wall controller for the home, potentially rivaling Google’s Nest Hub or Amazon’s Echo Show in purpose and utility.
Today’s HomePods already include a small, round display at the top, yet its capabilities remain largely indicator-based rather than interactive. The new model is anticipated to expand that role, delivering richer user interactions and a more central hub experience for Apple’s ecosystem.
Earlier this year, Bloomberg reported that Apple is exploring a smart home controller capable of facilitating FaceTime calls. The concept also involves magnetic holders designed to mount the device on walls, suggesting a design that blends seamless integration with flexible placement options. It is plausible that this is the same device Kuo referenced, underscoring the potential convergence of home control, communication, and multimedia in a single unit.
In related developments, Apple has introduced a new proprietary app aimed at classical composers, reflecting the broader push to diversify the company’s software and hardware applications within its ecosystem. This move aligns with a broader strategy to deepen user engagement across varied creative and practical domains, leveraging hardware form factors that complement specialized software tools. – Bloomberg – prior reporting provided context for Apple’s ongoing smart home ambitions and wearable ecosystem enhancements, illustrating how new hardware concepts can intersect with software innovations to expand the Apple experience.