Skip to main content

Apple might launch a HomePod smart display in 2024

Apple just launched the revised HomePod earlier this year, but rumors are already swirling about the company’s next big smart home launch. And if the speculation is true, we could be seeing a radically new type of HomePod hit the market in early 2024.

The rumors come from industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. According to Kuo, the upcoming HomePod will feature a seven-inch touchscreen panel and would be designed to allow easier integration with other products in the Apple lineup. In other words, it sounds like a smart display — which isn’t revolutionary, but it would be the first smart display produced by Apple.

Apple HomePod 2023 next to a TV.
Zeke Jones / Digital Trends

The current HomePod uses a small, circular display to control the action, although little information is actually shown on the touchscreen.

Kuo’s report lines up with reports earlier this year that Apple is deep into development on an iPad-like device for its smart home catalog. Unfortunately, the latest rumors don’t give us much more detail on what an Apple smart display would look like, but they do lend credibly to the earlier reports. And considering Apple is a big supporter of Matter, it only makes sense for it to offer competition for the Google Nest and Amazon Echo smart display lineups.

While we’re still light on specifics for the rumored HomePod smart display, Kuo does mention that its screen will likely be produced by Tianma, a company that “specializes in providing state-of-the-art display solutions.” Apple displays are always near the top of their class, so it’ll be interesting to see if this new smart home product follows that trend and does something unique to separate itself from other smart displays on the market.

Expect to learn more about Apple’s HomePod with a seven-inch display as we get closer to 2024.

Editors' Recommendations

Jon Bitner
Jon Bitner is a writer covering consumer electronics, technology, and gaming. His work has been published on various websites…
The Skylight Cal Max is a 27-inch smart calendar that might replace your smart display
The Skylight Cal Max installed on a wall.

Skylight, a company responsible for a variety of popular smart frames, is gearing up to launch the Cal Max -- a smart calendar that's a simplified version of a traditional smart display. You won't be watching Netflix on the massive 27-inch screen or tinkering with dozens of different apps, as it's aimed at providing families with a streamlined way to access their calendars, chores, meal planning, and photo albums without any of the clutter found on traditional smart displays.

The Cal Max is designed to help organize your home without introducing any unwanted distractions. You won't find a massive lineup of supported apps (as you typically see on smart displays). Instead, you can seamlessly sync your data from Google Calendar, Outlook, Apple Calendar, Cozi, and Yahoo, allowing family members to automatically push all their activities to the Cal Max for easy planning. It also doubles as a smart frame, letting you view photos sent by members of your family.

Read more
The 5 best smart ceiling fans for your home in 2024
ceiling fan deals westinghouse lighting comet indoor

If you're still using traditional ceiling fans at home, why not make the upgrade to smart ceiling fans? These devices offers lots of benefits, starting with compatibility with digital assistants and controls through your smartphone. If you're interested, check out our list of the best smart ceiling fans -- there's something here for any room of the house, even outdoor areas, as well as special features such as RGB lights and Bluetooth speakers. There's a lot of options out there, but you can narrow down your choices with this roundup.
The best smart ceiling fans in 2024

Buy the

Read more
Amazon might launch a paid version of Alexa later this year
An Amazon smart display on a kitchen counter.

Amazon hasn't had much success monetizing its popular Alexa smart assistant, but according to a new report from Business Insider, the e-commerce giant might be launching a paid version of Alexa to help offset costs. The so-called "Alexa Plus" would feature generative AI, allowing it to provide users with more detailed responses that better answer their questions.

Details are scarce, but it sounds like Amazon is expected to launch the service on June 30. The team first announced it was reworking Alexa last September, which was followed by reports that over 15,000 users were helping test the service under the code name "Remarkable Alexa."

Read more