Apple is working on an all-new product for your home: Here’s what to expect next year

After releasing the HomePod 2 in early 2023, there have been a number of varying rumors about what’s next for HomePod. Some rumors suggest that Apple is taking a dive into smart home tabletop robotics, while others suggest that Apple is working on a more traditional smart display, one that provides Apple Intelligence for the home, while being cheaper than an iPad.

Apple Intelligence support

Apple’s upcoming smart home product with a display, which is internally known as ‘HomeAccessory’ under codename J490, is expected to have an A18 chipset. This would mean it’d support the full Apple Intelligence feature set and the all new Siri, unlike any existing HomePod model.

HomePod and HomePod mini both use chipsets from Apple Watch models, the S7 and S5 chips respectively. It’s unclear if Apple has short term refresh plans for the normal HomePods to support Apple Intelligence, but regardless, the potential HomePod with display will likely be the first smart home product from Apple with Apple Intelligence.

Square display

According to 9to5Mac sources, Apple’s upcoming product will have a display with a square aspect ratio:

Interestingly, sources told us that the HomeAccessory in its current state has a squarish display, rather than a rectangular format like an iPad.

Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman also corroborated this fact, stating that the displays will “be about the size of two iPhones side by side.”

Unique form factor

Apple’s upcoming product will feature a built-in camera for FaceTime and over video conferencing apps, unlike some other smart home displays. However, unlike those products, Apple might not just attach a cheap display to a speaker, and rather make the display the focus of the product.

In the past, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has referred to the product as an “iPad-like smart display that could be magnetically attached to a wall.”

It’s unclear what appeal this would have compared to a cheap iPad, so I personally have my doubts, but this is what Apple is potentially working on.

In addition, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman recently stated that the product might have a stand, one reminiscent of the iMac G4. However, it isn’t clear whether or not that stand will include speakers. I imagine it would.

A new operating system: homeOS

According to new reports from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple will likely be going ahead with the “homeOS” naming for their upcoming operating system for smart home products with displays. This aligns with previous reporting from earlier in the year.

9to5Mac has also previously found a lock screen interface within a tvOS 18 beta, internally known as PlasterBoard. This likely means that tvOS will be the basis of homeOS for the upcoming products.

Release date

According to 9to5Mac sources, Apple is aiming to release this product in the spring of 2025. Plans could obviously change, but we’ll probably see this product sometime next year regardless.

Are you excited for Apple’s upcoming venture into standalone smart home products with displays? Let us know in the comments.

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