According to the latest Gurman report, Apple is currently not only working on a new iPhone, but also on a new high-quality HomePod, an updated HomePod mini and other smart home devices.
So far, Apple has been very thin in the smart home sector. The own smart speaker called HomePod was even stamped out after moderate success. But now he’s set to make a comeback. And the little brother, the HomePod mini, will probably get an update. According to a report, Apple is also planning a renewed push into the area of the smart, networked home.
Is a new HomePod coming?
After Apple fell well short of expectations with the release of its HomePod in 2018, the launch of the smaller HomePod mini also marked the end of its big brother. There has only been one notable change in the lineup since then, when Apple released new Mini models in different colors in November 2021. Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman However, now reported about the new plans of the large tech group, which include a new edition of the smart speaker. Gurman has been providing reliable Apple insights for years. According to him, a new “high-end HomePod” will be launched in early 2023. The always well-informed analyst Ming-Chi Kuo also confirmed this on his channels. He even thinks a release at the end of 2022 is still possible.
According to Gurman, the new HomePod is internally called the B620. Inside, the same S8 chip is said to be installed as in the upcoming Apple Watch Series 8. Even if the chip doesn’t bring much that is new for the smartwatch, it would mean a significant leap in performance for the HomePod compared to the discontinued model. Also under discussion is a new multi-touch display on the top. Such a smart display could then also be used in other devices in the future.
Apple’s plans for the HomePod mini
Gurman remains quite vague in his report and does not give any details. However, the US reporter seems certain that Apple is planning an update for its compact HomePod mini.
The small intelligent loudspeaker from the Apple Group came onto the market at the end of 2020. With a height of just 84.3 millimeters, the smart speaker is quite small. The spherical design is reminiscent of Amazon’s Echo Dot 4, which was released around the same time, but which is a good two centimeters higher. The smart speaker is equipped with Apple’s voice assistant Siri and can be fully controlled via it. An iPhone or iPad is a typical Apple requirement for use.
Even if not much is known about the possible update of the HomePod mini, it can still be assumed with certainty that an update to Bluetooth 5.2 is planned. One of the reasons for this is that an important new Bluetooth codec for the AirPods Pro 2 was recently released.
Further smart home devices in planning
In addition to the HomePod innovations, Apple also seems to have plans apart from smart speakers for the Smart Home area. According to Gurman, the group is also working on a product that combines the advantages of an iPad and a smart speaker and is specially designed for use in the kitchen. Even if you can’t imagine too much from this description, the fact that Apple will support the Matter smart home standard in the future speaks strongly for Gurman’s report.
In addition, there is talk of a smart device for the living room with a focus on home entertainment. Among other things, with its Apple TV, the company already has a versatile television in its portfolio. Apparently Apple is working on an extension of its TV and a combination with a camera and the HomePod.