Apple is likely to release a new version of its original HomePod next year, featuring a new display on top with new touch interactions, says Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman.
In the latest edition of his Power On newsletter, Gurman says the smart speaker will have a similar size and boast comparable audio quality as the original HomePod (which was discontinued in 2021), and will boast an S8 processor.
The HomePod, code-named B620, will run the same S8 chip coming to the watches and will be closer to the original HomePod in terms of size and audio performance rather than a new HomePod mini. The new HomePod will have an updated display on top and there’s even been some talk of multi-touch functionality.
The current HomePod mini uses the S5 chip that was introduced with Apple Watch Series 5.
Gurman’s prediction jibes with a recent claim by Apple industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who said Apple is working on an updated version of the HomePod that could come in the fourth quarter of 2022 or the first quarter of 2023.
Apple released its original smart speaker, the HomePod in 2017. The Cupertino company discontinued the HomePod in March 2021, due to lower-than-expected sales, shifting its focus to the HomePod mini.