Apple could significantly expand its smart home product line over the next two years, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. In its latest Power On newsletter, Gurman reports that the company has “at least four new smart home devices in its labs.”
That list includes the new HomePod model that Gurman first wrote about in June, in addition to the revamped HomePod mini. The former will reportedly look and sound like the original model from 2018. Apple discontinued the HomePod in 2021 without announcing a direct replacement. The other two devices are completely new products for the company.
According to German, one is a kitchen accessory that combines an iPad with a speaker. Meanwhile, the other is reported to combine Apple TV, camera and HomePod functionality into a living room device. He says Apple could release one of these two products by the end of next year or early 2024, but warns that “not all of them will see the light of day.”
A kitchen device would make Apple compete more closely with Amazon and Google. The two are most closely associated with the smart display category thanks to releases like the Nest Hub and Echo Show 15. It would be interesting to see what Apple thinks it can bring to the field, as most smart displays don’t feel substantial.
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