Apple plans to release updated versions of its Apple TV and HomePod mini in 2025. The releases will be part of a major push by Apple to refresh its smart home product offerings, reports Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman.
Gurman’s comments came in a report on Apple’s in-house designed Bluetooth and Wi-Fi chip, both of which Gurman says will first debut in a new Apple TV and HomePod mini that the Cupertino firm has “scheduled” for 2025.
In a report on an upcoming Apple-designed Bluetooth and Wi-Fi chip, Gurman says that the chip will be introduced in a new Apple TV and HomePod mini that are “scheduled” for 2025. Gurman also mentions that the chip will be included in iPhones “later next year,” indicating the new chip will come to the HomePod mini and the Apple TV lineups before September.
While the component will support Wi-Fi 6E, it may not boast all of the same features of Broadcom’s chips with the first-generation in-house Wi-Fi chip.
Adopting a custom-designed Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip will allow Apple’s upcoming smart home devices to work better together and perhaps “synchronize data more quickly.”
Apple is also working on a home hub “Command Center” that’s set for a 2025 release, although we don’t know if that device will also use the custom radio chip. The Command Center is said to have a 6-inch display with a built-in speaker and camera, providing control for smart home devices, the ability to make video calls, and more.