Rumor roundup: Apple’s next HomePod and smart home devices
Apple is reportedly preparing several smart home products beyond simple speaker refreshes, including updated HomePod and HomePod mini models and a display-equipped hub. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has said three devices are nearly ready, but their release may wait for the redesigned AI-powered Siri. The article collects expected timing, features, and pricing for rumored products such as HomePod Touch and HomePad.
Apple currently sells two HomePods: the mini at $129 and the second-generation model at $349, following June 2026 price increases. Reports suggest the next mini and a third-generation HomePod would mainly update internals, add faster chips, and possibly new colors such as red, with a mid-2026 timeframe floated.
A larger screen-based device, sometimes called HomePad or HomePod Touch, is rumored for late 2026 with a 6–7-inch display, possibly wall-mounted. A related hub concept could combine speaker, screen, and home controls. Launch timing may hinge on a revamped Siri with AI features, expected with OS 27 updates later this year. Later possibilities include a robotic-arm display and a security camera, though those are less certain.
If these devices arrive, Apple customers and smart-home buyers could gain more integrated control over lighting, audio, and household routines. Developers may face new opportunities if Apple expands its home platform. The impact may depend on pricing, Siri reliability, and whether households see enough value in a display hub. Competing smart-speaker and smart-display makers could feel pressure, while privacy expectations around always-listening devices may shape adoption.