Hints of new HomePod model with Apple screen leaked
The Apple rumor mill has been waiting a long time for a new "home device". Now there are signs: apparently an existing piece of hardware is being pimped.
HomePod 2: So far has no display, just a few LEDs that light up.
(Image: Apple)
Apple is apparently actually working on a smart speaker with a screen. Rumors to this effect have been around for a long time – along with speculation about a completely new "home device" that would be a kind of small iPad for HomeKit control. Now, the latest developer beta of iOS 26, which was released on Tuesday evening, provides the first tangible evidence. There is a mention of an as yet unknown device in the settings.
Display instead of colorful lights
As Macrumors discovered, it references a location data function. "Your HomePod cannot show you the local weather or time, nor can it respond to Siri requests about your surroundings," it says. The important verb here is "show": The HomePod doesn't have its own screen yet, just colorful LED lights on the top.
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Accordingly, Apple seems to be preparing to support a HomePod with a display. What exactly this will look like is still unclear. In the current design, a screen does not fit into either the large model or the HomePod mini. In the meantime, there has been speculation that Apple is planning a combination of the aforementioned Home device and speaker dock, as known from competitors.
Name probably not "HomePad"
Speculation that Apple is planning a kind of "HomePad" seems to have been dashed for the time being –, just like this obvious name. However, it is still conceivable that there could be both a smart speaker with a display and an iPad-like Home device, as both variants would ultimately make sense.
The idea behind the Home device, aka HomePad, would be to control your entire smart home on a HomeKit and Matter basis with one compact piece of hardware. This is currently done with – iPads or iPhones that are actually oversized for this purpose –, and the Apple Home app responsible for this also runs on the Mac. It is currently expected that "HomePad" or HomePod with screen will not be released before next year. The reason: Apple is keen to implement new Siri functions, which the company has had to postpone until 2026. However, a genuine voice mode based on a voice model is not planned for the time being.
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