What’s Next For HomePod: Bigger Model With S8 Chip, Material Support, And More

Whereas the unique HomePod was discontinued over a yr in the past, rumors recommend that Apple plans to launch one other, bigger HomePod mannequin sooner or later. In the meantime, the HomePod mini will doubtless increase its presence by launching in different international locations over time.

Hold studying for a recap of the newest HomePod and HomePod mini rumors and the way forward for Apple’s sensible dwelling ambitions.

New HomePod with S8 chip

Apple is growing a brand new HomePod with the identical rumored S8 chip for the Apple Watch Sequence 8, says Bloombergis Mark Gurman.

In June, Gurman mentioned the brand new HomePod could be “nearer to the unique HomePod” than the HomePod mini in measurement and audio efficiency, and have an “up to date show on high” with multi- potential contact. No additional particulars are recognized about this rumored HomePod, which Gurman says “most likely will not occur till subsequent yr.”

In Might, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo mentioned Apple would launch a brand new HomePod in This fall 2022 or Q1 2023, including that “there may not be a lot innovation in {hardware} design “. Kuo did not share any additional particulars, so it is unclear if he was referring to a brand new model of HomePod or HomePod mini.

The unique HomePod is just below seven inches tall and options the identical A8 chip discovered within the iPhone 6, seven beamforming tweeters and 6 microphones. When it launched in February 2018, the full-size HomePod was priced at $349 within the US, however Apple lowered the value of the speaker to $299 in April 2019.

Whereas early HomePod evaluations praised the speaker’s audio high quality, it was costly and held again by Siri’s flaws. HomePod gross sales have reportedly been lackluster through the years, however the speaker has fetched excessive costs on eBay since its discontinuation and has grow to be one thing of a collector’s merchandise. With the precise value, measurement, and have set, a brand new HomePod may be extra profitable.

HomePod mixed with Apple TV

Earlier this yr, Gurman mentioned he thinks Apple can be planning a brand new system that mixes a HomePod, Apple TV and digicam. He mentioned this mixed system could be “most likely central to Apple’s strategy” within the dwelling.

Gurman claimed that Apple has been “growing new audio system with shows and cameras” since early 2021, which might enable the system for use for FaceTime calls and different new options. Such a tool might compete with Google’s Nest Hub and Amazon’s Echo Present within the sensible dwelling equipment market.

No different particulars are recognized concerning the HomePod/Apple TV combo system at the moment.

HomePod Mini in additional international locations

Final month, Apple launched software program model 15.6 for the HomePod and HomePod mini. Together with efficiency and stability enhancements, the replace added Siri assist for Swedish and Norwegian on HomePod and HomePod mini.

The addition of Swedish and Norwegian assist doubtless means the HomePod mini will likely be launched in Sweden and Norway over the following few months. Apple has additionally been testing Siri in Danish and Finnish with some HomePod mini customers in latest months, so the HomePod mini might additionally launch in Denmark and Finland. Nevertheless, Danish and Finnish aren’t but listed as supported languages ​​within the HomePod mini settings.

Apple launched the HomePod mini in Belgium, the Netherlands and Switzerland in late March, a few month after rolling out Dutch language assist to HomePods.

Materials Help

Matter is an upcoming connectivity commonplace that may enable suitable sensible dwelling equipment to work collectively seamlessly throughout a number of platforms, together with Apple’s HomeKit, Amazon’s Alexa, and Google Residence. Apple says Matter assist is “coming in an replace later this yr” to its software program platforms.

Controlling Matter equipment with the Residence app and Siri would require a HomePod, HomePod mini, Apple TV 4K, or Apple TV HD functioning as a house hub.