No Release Until Late 2025
In his latest update, Ming Chi Kuo has tempered the expectations set by Mark Gurman. While Gurman anticipated the launch of this product by next March, the analyst now predicts a release closer to the end of the year (around the third quarter). He mentions a delay in the device’s system development.
He also notes that the mass production schedule for the device has been pushed back multiple times, mainly due to issues with software development. Originally set for 2024, it was postponed to Q1 2025, and more recently, delayed again following WWDC 2025.
What to Expect from This New Smart Home Product?
Like Mark Gurman, Ming Chi Kuo suggests that the device is being repositioned more as a home control center (rather than just a smart speaker). This HomeAccessory, with the code name J490, might feature an A18 chip (and at least 8GB of RAM) to support Apple Intelligence functionalities, and also include a 6 to 7-inch screen. Beta versions had already unveiled a new product category (similar to what exists for HomePods, classified under AudioAccessory
).
It was previously reported that it could come with an integrated camera suitable for FaceTime and various sensors. This system would also be able to recognize certain hand gestures from a distance (to perform actions). It could identify the user to activate different requests, or even detect the number of people nearby.
This true home command center
would centralize Apple apps, Apple Intelligence capabilities, and HomeKit integration. This launch would mark a significant step for Cupertino in the smart home market, already crowded with competitors like Google and Amazon, while leveraging its secure ecosystem and AI. Depending on the pricing, this hybrid HomePod could potentially compete, but that remains to be seen…
Recap of Various Rumors
In 2021, Mark Gurman was the first to suggest that Apple was working on new HomePods with screens and cameras. By March 2023, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo had weighed in on this product. For him, this HomePod could feature a design quite different from the current model, especially to accommodate this 7-inch screen. It should offer better integration with other Apple products, marking a significant shift in its smart home strategy
.
Later, Mark Gurman (again) had mentioned this product equipped with a speaker, alongside features from the Apple TV, a FaceTime camera, and Siri compatibility. The Bloomberg journalist had expected a launch by the end of 2023 or early 2024 at that time.
Towards the end of the year, Apple prototype collector and leaker, Kosutami on X (formerly Twitter), had shared some details about an upcoming HomePod model with an LCD screen that would be significantly different from the second-generation HomePod (released in 2023), but would feature a large LCD touchscreen. Subsequently, other rumors had suggested a model under development with the code name B720
.
Finally, and perhaps the most reliable indicator of a new device, a beta of TVOS 17 last February referred to an unprecedented device identified as Z314
. The code revealed several versions of internal development and production being tested. The product might therefore have reached an advanced stage in the process.
Additionally, this version also introduced several SwiftUI frameworks to the HomePod firmware, as well as a system tool, which is normally used for debugging the user interface (thus a screen) when it fails to respond in iOS apps.