Apple Is Working On Smart Home Products With Screen: This Is What It Expects Next Year

JAKARTA After releasing HomePod 2 early 2023, Apple is reportedly developing a new smart home product with a screen, which is codenamed J490 or known internally as HomeAccessory. This product is expected to launch in the spring of 2025 and provide tighter integration with other Apple product ecosystems.

According to reports, this new device will be equipped with an A18 chipset that will allow full support for new Apple Intelligence and Siri features, making it Apple's first smart home product with this capability. Unlike previous HomePod models that used chipsets from Apple Watch, such as S7 on HomePod and S5 on HomePod mini, HomeAccessory will offer a significant performance improvement.

The device is thought to have a 7-inch LCD screen, similar to Amazon Echo Show and Google Nest Hub products, with a panel provided by the new supplier, Tianma. The device will also feature a built-in camera for FaceTime and video conferencing, making it superior to other smart display products that often only pair screens with speakers without camera features.

Apple is reportedly planning to build this product more than just a speaker with a screen. According to speculation, this product will have a possible shape to install magnetically on the wall, offering tablet-like functions, but focusing on smart home system integration. This device will run a new operating system called homeOS, which is developed based on tvOS and has been detected in the beta version of tvOS 18.

Although some preliminary reports say the product will be released in early 2024, the launch appears to be delayed until spring 2025. Even so, the presence of this device remains anticipated as part of Apple's new strategic move in expanding smart home technology.