The Apple HomePod with a screen could arrive very soon, and it won’t be the only one

After years of waiting and rumors, the Cupertino company is ready to make its return to the smart home market. Driven by the latest advances in the field of artificial intelligence, Apple is preparing a series of new devices designed to compete directly with Amazon and Google.

At the center of this strategy emerges an unprecedented home control device, accompanied by updated versions of Apple TV and HomePod mini, all deeply integrated with the renewed voice assistant Siri AI to offer a tailored user experience.

Apple gears up to make a strong comeback in the smart home market

The most awaited device is a smart hub equipped with a 7-inch square display, designed to become the core of home management. This terminal will be governed by a completely new operating system, derived from tvOS, which will offer a hybrid graphical interface between iOS and watchOS.

The screen will display grids of icons, widgets and apps, allowing quick access to multiple functions. Among these are the FaceTime video calls, security monitoring, an intercom system to communicate between rooms and the full control of smart appliances.

The most innovative aspect of the product lies in the facial recognition system. This technology will allow the terminal to accurately identify which user is looking at it and to measure their distance, accordingly adjusting the text size and instantly showing personalized content, such as calendars and personal notes.

The California giant has in the works two variants: a tabletop model with a half-dome base, similar to a HomePod mini cut in half, and a version designed for wall mounting via a modern magnetic mounting system.

Also arriving: new Apple TV and HomePod mini

The brand’s offensive strategy does not stop at the new smart display. Starting next autumn, updated versions of the Apple TV and the HomePod mini are expected to launch.

Although the aesthetics of these devices will remain largely unchanged from the current generations, the internal architecture will be upgraded with much faster processors, essential to locally process the complex operations required by the new Siri AI system.

This major hardware update will also reflect commercially, with price increases for both product categories.

The development of these products has been closely linked to that of software, prompting the company to postpone launches to align them with the release of the “27” operating systems.

Long-term horizons and launch timelines

In addition to the imminent hardware, Cupertino’s laboratories are finalizing even more ambitious projects. Development plans include a high-end home security camera, designed to capture market share away from rivals like Amazon Ring.

Additionally, at a later stage, an evolution of the domestic hub with a larger 9″ screen, mounted on a robot arm capable of orienting the display to follow people during video conversations will arrive.

Regarding the initial 7″ display model, current projections indicate an official unveiling scheduled within a window spanning from October to the early months of next year.