The HomePod Product Lineup
Apple’s HomePod family is known for being their most unpredictable product lineup. After the poor sales results of the first-ever smart speaker with Siri functionality, the product appeared to be abandoned until the Mini model achieved great success. Now, a second “full-sized” edition is set to be released soon.
The New Redesigned HomePod
According to Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple is planning to release a “redesigned” HomePod with a 7-inch panel in the first half of next year. This new addition will aim to enable tighter integration with Apple’s other hardware products, marking a significant shift in the company’s smart home strategy.
As of now, it is unclear what this means for real-world functionality, but it is possible to draw comparisons to similar devices. With a 7-inch touchscreen, the new HomePod could potentially rival Google’s Nest Hub (2nd Gen) and Amazon’s Echo Show 8 (2nd Gen) smart displays.
Pricing of the HomePod Show
If the HomePod Show is indeed in production, then its price point will be the most interesting detail. It is unlikely that Apple will set a low price of $99 for its first smart display. However, the difference between the rumored price range of $150 to $250 could make a significant impact on sales.
While both Kuo and Gurman are known for their accuracy in predicting Apple’s future products, it is always uncertain what the tech giant is planning for future releases. Time will reveal whether the new HomePod Show will be a reality and how it will impact the smart home market.
