The ‘HomePod with a screen’ smart speaker has long been rumored – we first wrote about it in March 2024. However, it is not only now announced to happen at a now-announced Apple event tomorrow, but it will be connected to a new HomePod Mini and new Apple TV 4K, which can be called the Apple TV Pro.
According to leaks over the weekend courtesy of Bloomberg, it appears that the smart display will actually be called Apple HomeView and may mean that the previous HomePod smart speaker will be discontinued. The device was previously rumored to be called the HomePad and – like the other Apple Home products has been ready for a long time, waiting for the new AI-infused version of Siri to launch which it now has (at least in beta).
There are some suggestions that Apple may offer two versions of the Apple A18-powered HomeView – one with a metal base designed for a countertop (ce gray, silver, starlight and pink are the proposed colors) and one that is wall-mountable.
Previous rumors suggested that the display could snap onto a wall-mounted base using MagSafe-style technology. It is also suggested that Siri will be the primary mode of interaction with the device rather than the touch screen.
Rumors have also suggested that the HomeView will have better audio performance than Apple’s HomePod Mini, but since it’s certainly bigger, this isn’t a surprise. It may also have Face ID.
For some time now, beta versions of Apple’s iOS software for the iPhone have been labeled “homeOS” – the latest being iOS 17.4. Of course, this suggests a new version of software for Apple’s home devices. However, this software – according to rumors – will not have an App Store, which seems like a strange choice at the moment.
It seems like an unusual time to launch such a device – at a time when interest in the Google Nest Hub and Amazon Echo Show range seems low – and these products have been released in various forms since the end of the last decade.
However, Apple certainly seems to be trying to shape the future of the smart home – and it has also apparently worked with LG on a suite of semi-official Apple Home devices such as a doorbell and a camera.
The LG devices also proposed to appear as a pop-up in the Dynamic Island of the iPhone when the user is nearby for easier setup and control.
HomePod mini 2 and the new Apple TV should reach stores on October 30, while HomeView should follow around mid-November.
We’ll have full coverage of the event on Tuesday – here’s everything we can expect from the Welcome Home Showcase in the meantime.
