Kuo: New 'HomePod' With Screen to Enter Mass Production After WWDC

[MacRumors]

Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo today reiterated his belief that a new HomePod with a screen will enter mass production in the third quarter of 2025.

Kuo is likely referring to Apple's rumored smart home hub, which is expected to have a square iPad-like screen that can be attached to a HomePod-like speaker base, or mounted on a wall. If his timeframe is accurate, it means that the device would enter mass production after Apple's annual developers conference WWDC in June.

Kuo originally predicted that the HomePod with a screen would enter mass production in the first quarter of 2025, but he said manufacturing was pushed back due to "software development issues," including Apple Intelligence. Last week, Apple said that the more personalized version of Siri that it previewed at WWDC 2024 last year is taking longer than it expected, and it now anticipates rolling out the new Siri features "in the coming year." It would make sense if Apple's smart home hub has been postponed too, as a result.

Kuo said another reason for the delay is ensuring that the device's interface aligns with software updates coming later this year, including iOS 19. Maybe (or maybe not) this relates to Apple's rumored visionOS-like software redesign plans, which could extend to the all-new homeOS operating system that is expected on the smart home hub.

Apple's smart home hub is rumored to feature a 6-inch or 7-inch display, and an A18 chip. It would allow users to control smart home accessories, make FaceTime video calls, use Apple's intercom feature between rooms in a house, and more. It might even double as a home security system with an Apple-designed camera.

It is unclear if the home hub will launch in late 2025, or if the delays will push it back until 2026.

Article Link: Kuo: New 'HomePod' With Screen to Enter Mass Production After WWDC

 

[JuicyGoomba]

$600, sells less than than expected, discontinued two years later and Apple blames "weak demand".

Did I miss anything?

Edit: FWIW Google has already nailed this concept, what we actually need is a HomePod style DOCK, afterall iPads have those smart connectors on the back right?

Dock your iPad magnetically, iPad OS automatically enters 'Home' mode and starts charging the iPad.

Then again I'm not so sure iPad OS is advanced enough to handle such a task

 

[heisalso]

Excited for ScreenPod Pro.

 

[IceCool]

Only announcement I want is WWDC25... Thinking it gets announced on March 25th, but if not it'll either be tomorrow or, more likely, the 27th. I miss when invites came out on the 2nd full week of March!

 

[dannyyankou]

So maybe the AI features will be ready by 19.0.

 

[hieranonymous]

These speculative renders are so clunky, I hope the actual shipping product is more refined.

 

[npmacuser5]

Hanging screen covering part of the HomePod sound would seem to be counter productive.

 

[ghanwani]

Going to be another weird offering from Apple. Guaranteed to result in lots of head scratching.

 

[sunapple]

a square iPad-like screen that can be attached to a HomePod-like speaker base, or mounted on a wall

How is this better than just a regular iPad and separate speaker? If it needs to be on all the time, then Apple TV remotely paired with any device for its screen is a good answer?

All components that this device is rumored to consist out of already exist in people’s homes.

 

[AlexESP]

$600, sells less than than expected, discontinued two years later and Apple blames "weak demand".

Did I miss anything?

Edit: FWIW Google has already nailed this concept, what we actually need is a HomePod style DOCK, afterall iPads have those smart connectors on the back right?

Dock your iPad magnetically, iPad OS automatically enters 'Home' mode and starts charging the iPad.

Then again I'm not so sure iPad OS is advanced enough to handle such a task

Based on all historical evidence, what will happen is that Google will discontinue the concept you say they “nailed” in less than two years, while Apple will commit to their product.

 

[citysnaps]

Hanging screen covering part of the HomePod sound would seem to be counter productive.

That's an artist rendering, and not an Apple photo of an upcoming Apple product.

 

[citysnaps]

I'm looking forward to seeing what it turns out to be.

 

[Mity]

Please have a physical camera and microphone control!!! How hard is to include this:

 

[McWetty]

what we actually need is a HomePod style DOCK

Dock your iPad magnetically, iPad OS automatically enters 'Home' mode and starts charging the iPad.

This. Apple, are you reading? This is what I want.

I would want HomePod speakers in that dock though.

 

[brofkand]

Siri will NEVER be good enough to make buying something like this a good idea.

 

[Treble]

Apple just seem to be pissing in the wind nowadays and hoping for the best

 

[alexandr]

I'm trying to figure out where the best place for something like this would be. And I don't mean "in the trash" btw.

 

[itsluke]

Strongly hoping that the render is way off reality: who would in its sane mind put an iPad in front of a speaker?

 

[Macniatic]

Is just me or this design looks 'not great'? I hope Apple comes out with something different than an iPad with a speaker as base. You can do better Apple!

 

[AppleFeller]

This feels even less relevant then a apple car did…

 

[npmacuser5]

That's an artist rendering, and not an Apple photo of an upcoming Apple product.

Not the sharpest artist maybe.

 

[xraydoc]

This is actually something I'd buy. My wife, for whatever reason, can't get Siri to consistently respond to her requests to control smart home devices like lights and fans. I think she gets nervous or something and doesn't give clear commands... anyway, having on-screen buttons for her to press would be easier for her. And this way she doesn't need to hunt down her phone every time she wants to change the upstairs thermostat from the kitchen.

 

[brofkand]

Apple just seem to be pissing in the wind nowadays and hoping for the best

"Apple is like a ship with a hole in the bottom, leaking water, and my job is to get that ship pointed in the right direction." - Gil Amelio

- Tim Cook

 

[JuicyGoomba]

Based on all historical evidence, what will happen is that Google will discontinue the concept you say they “nailed” in less than two years, while Apple will commit to their product.

Classic.

While it sucks that Google discontinues a lot of niche and well loved products, they do so because it isn't making them money, just like Apple did with the original Homepod. But I appreciate the meme response.

And yeah, they nailed it. It wasn't hard to nail. It's a pretty easy concept that Apple are ignoring. Nice tablet that people enjoy using as a standalone device on the sofa, scrolling etc, while streaming music to the dock. Time for bed, dock the tablet, press the bedtime mode or w/e you have set to come up when "Home" mode enables. Done.

Very few people want a full sized Homepod, even fewer want a full sized Homepod with an iPad permanently attached to it.

Literally any company can "nail" the concept, except clearly Apple are struggling. It's another Vision Pro looking for a problem that doesn't exist.

It's sad because so far all the smart pins have been used for on the iPad is to advertise overpriced keyboards.

 

[Johnny907]

"Starting at $899. We think you're gonna love it."