This week, Mark Gurman is leaving the Macs for a bit to focus on another product that would be in the pipeline in the Cupertino labs. According to some, the company is working on a hybrid product that will combine a HomePod and an Apple TV with a FaceTime camera.
In the Q&A section of his newsletter, the Bloomberg reporter is absolutely certain: This new HomePod would be in the pipeline and would likely be at the heart of Apple’s approach to home automation. However, he doesn’t think this is a big HomePod
is still in development, but maybe a new HomePod mini could come.
Earlier last year, Mark Gurman was the first to suggest that Apple was working on this HomePod + Apple TV combo with a camera (the product was meant to pair with an outside screen, a TV, an iPhone, or an iPad). He also thinks that this product would have standard Apple TV functionality and may be compatible with Siri.
Keep in mind that Apple abandoned the original HomePod in March 2021, but many thought the company was working on other projects at the time. As a result, the HomePod mini, launched in 2020 – had – since – received much better reception, no doubt thanks to its cheaper price point. With competing products (particularly on Amazon), it wouldn’t be surprising if Apple finally launched another version of the HomePod mini with new features.