Kuo: New HomePod With Smart Home Display Arriving in Late 2025

[MacRumors]

Apple's long-rumored HomePod with a display has been delayed again and is now expected to launch after WWDC 2025, likely in the third quarter of the year, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. This timeline is a shift from Kuo's earlier prediction of a 2024 release.

MacRumors concept render​

The new smart speaker is expected to feature Apple's A18 processor and a 6-7 inch display, with support for Apple Intelligence, says the analyst. According to Kuo, the delay is primarily attributed to software development challenges, rather than hardware issues.

There have been rumors about a ‌HomePod with a display since 2021, and Apple actually seems to have several products in the works. Kuo's latest report harks back to previous predictions from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, who suggested Apple was developing several HomePod variants with screens, including one with an iPad-like display and another featuring a screen mounted on a robotic arm. Gurman had indicated these devices were unlikely to launch before 2025.

The new HomePod will reportedly emphasize smart home functionality more than current models, suggesting a strategic repositioning of the product line. The idea that Apple is targeting the smart home market follows a recent report by Gurman about Apple developing an all-in-one home management hub with a square-shaped display, thick bezels, and a hemispherical base similar to the iMac G4.

Tianma Microelectronics will be the exclusive panel supplier for the display-equipped HomePod, while BYD Electronics will be the exclusive assembler, according to Kuo. Initial shipment expectations for the new HomePod are relatively modest, with analyst forecasting approximately 500,000 units in the second half of 2025. He also maintains his previous prediction that Apple will launch a compatible smart home IP camera in 2026 that is designed to work wirelessly with the display-equipped HomePod.

Article Link: Kuo: New HomePod With Smart Home Display Arriving in Late 2025

 

[SoldOnApple]

Should have had a proper display from the start imo.

 

[Neonblue]

Will be interesting to see the final functionality. My HomePod is tucked away in a corner with its main appeal for me being I never need go anywhere near the HomePod to operate it.

 

[Minato1990]

First day buy

 

[Godspeed8230]

Or Apple could have a proper voice assistant.

hey Siri, play a Christmas Paylist.
I am sorry, there is no "Miss Us" Playlist.


Arghhh!

 

[Mitthrawnuruodo]

I'm a bit intrigued about what Apple might end up launching.

In all likelihood it won't be anything I really need. All my Homepods are stricktly used as (wireless) speakers. I'm not using any smart functionality at all. Don't really have any smart house equipment at all, nor any need for any.

Now, Apple might surprise me, and release something I didn't know I actually needed or wanted, but I doubt it.

 

[wanha]

now THAT'S the HomePod I've been holding out for

 

[Mitthrawnuruodo]

Every time I'm reading anything about smart homes and similar, I'm reminded of this joke:

Tech Enthusiasts: Everything in my house is wired to the Internet of Things! I control it all from my smartphone! My smart-house is Bluetooth enabled and I can give it voice commands via Alexa! I love the future!

Programmers / Engineers: The most recent piece of technology I own is a printer from 2004 and I keep a loaded gun ready to shoot it if it ever makes an unexpected noise.

 

[alchemistmuffin]

The new smart speaker is expected to feature Apple's A18 processor and a 6-7 inch display, with support for Apple Intelligence

A18?!?!?!?!

I think new HomePod with display should at least have M2 or M3 chip, in order to do Apple Intelligence and more complex computational tasks, in order to set it apart from other smart speakers.

 

[Account25476]

I remember there was a user on Reddit who reported two and a half years ago, during iOS 16, that Siri responded to a query by saying they should check the display.





This means that the software was already set up for it two years ago, with resources invested into it. I really hope it doesn’t turn out to be a disaster, because otherwise, it would be a waste of resources over the years, for nothing.

 

[t0rqx]

Unless Siri truly becomes revamped and smart. This will be another failure.

 

[t0rqx]

Should have had a proper display from the start imo.

No. Cause if they did nobody would be forced to upgrade the year after, which would be hurting revenue.

 

[sunapple]

I don’t see the appeal of a screen but any news that speakers are still actively being developed is good news. Loved my first gen HomePod.

 

[attila]

LOL! It's not delayed if it isn't confirmed.

"Analysts" do everything to sound relevant.

 

[attila]

Or Apple could have a proper voice assistant.

hey Siri, play a Christmas Paylist.
I am sorry, there is no "Miss Us" Playlist.


Arghhh!

Honestly, I think Siri has become _worse_ since the introduction of Apple Intelligence. Possibly a coincidence, but a weird one in that case.

 

[Rychiar]

This is lame, Apple already releases too many things in the fall, they need to start spreading it out some

 

[Hank001]

hey Siri, play a Christmas Paylist.

I think if you're asking Siri for a Christmas Paylist it'll respond with:

"This is what I've found on Amazon".

 

[shenfrey]

Should have had a proper display from the start imo.

I hear you, but who stands over their HomePods? Over here we just shout at it to play whatever and it does its thing. I can’t imagine there’s huge demand for a display.

 

[Mac Fly (film)]

Maybe the thick bezels are so you can more easily grab the display and move it around on the arm, when you might want it a certain way.

 

[Sheepish-Lord]

I don't know anyone that "loves" their smart devices. They'll say they do but often when they talk about them it sounds exhausting to deal with or setup and any video of various products always seems to take longer than manually doing the function. Additionally, the lack of standardization on what supports what or the various protocols is annoying.

 

[sflagel]

It is hard to imagine that people want to go from having multiple switches spread throughout the house, to one fixed screen. It would be more useful to continue to develop the Home app on the Apple Watch.

 

[System603]

Should have had a proper display from the start imo.

This. I must admit, somewhat sheepishly, that when I bought my first one, it was purely an impulse purchase. I’d seen the cloudy, colourful animations in articles and promotional videos, but my mind assumed they were just something akin to audio-visual visualisations, like those old ones in WinAmp. I expected there’d be the name of the song displayed between tracks Silly me.

 

[Basic75]

No ethernet no purchase.

 

[Powerbooky]

A18?!?!?!?!

I think new HomePod with display should at least have M2 or M3 chip, in order to do Apple Intelligence and more complex computational tasks, in order to set it apart from other smart speakers.

Or... the Apple Intelligence job could be delegated to a capable device on the local network, then all the current HomePod models can have Apple Intelligence. That AI processing device can be an iPhone, a Mac or that rumoured All-In-One Home device.

 

[wanha]

A18?!?!?!?!

I think new HomePod with display should at least have M2 or M3 chip, in order to do Apple Intelligence and more complex computational tasks, in order to set it apart from other smart speakers.

ummm hello?

The A18 is the processor that is in the latest iPhone 16 - you know, the one that just came out two months ago (which means it's based on more advanced architecture than the M2 or M3).

You would do well by not blindly staring at the letter "M" and instead understanding that these are amazingly powerful chips