Apple could significantly expand its smart home product line in 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.”
This list includes the new HomePod model that Gurman first wrote about in June, as well as an updated HomePod mini. The former will look and sound like the original model from 2018. Apple discontinued the HomePod in 2021 without announcing a direct replacement. The other two devices represent entirely new products for the company.
According to Gurman, one is a kitchen accessory that combines an iPad with a speaker. Meanwhile, the other brings together the functionality of an Apple TV, a camera and a HomePod in one living room device. He says Apple could release one of these two products late next year or early 2024, but warns that “not all of them will see the light of day.”
A kitchen device would see Apple compete more closely with Amazon and Google. The two are more closely related to 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, since most smart displays don’t feel essential.