After the HomePod 2 was released in early 2023, there is a rumor floating around regarding another model of HomePods with the display. The reports are fairly divided between a more conventional smart display and something that leans into the tabletop device with a robotic arm.

Apple’s Smart Display

According to supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple’s upcoming smart display will have a 7-inch LCD screen identical to those on other smart displays like the Amazon Echo Show. The device would allow you to proactively make FaceTime calls, control your home smart devices, and access Siri commands. As 9to5Mac points out, Apple tested tvOS on an iPad mini in the past which hints at a smart display closer to that screen size. Kuo anticipated a launch early in 2024, but that clearly did not happen. Recent mentions within Apple beta software hint launch may be close.

Rumors of an Advanced HomePod with Display

Recently MacRumors discovered a new device in the backend code marked “HomeAccessory17,1” that is believed to use an A18 variant as part of the iPhone 16 family. While not tested in this particular HomePod display model, the A18 chip may give it Apple Intelligence features that provide a major new leap forward on Siri.

Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman, for example, has hinted that Apple is working on an iPad-style smart display that can magnetically hang from a wall as well. This suggests the development of a cheaper tablet-like device, perhaps with additional peripherals like a magnetic speaker dock.

Potential New Operating System: homeOS

Rumors about an upcoming homeOS have been circulating for months now, and we saw mention of the new operating system in tvOS 17.4 Whether homeOS will come as a brand-new OS or a simple rebranding of tvOS is still up in the air, but either way, we’re most likely to see it debut on new HomePod products with screens.

A new touch interface called “PlasterBoard” was uncovered by 9to5Mac earlier this month in the tvOS 18 beta. That said, this interface complete with a new passcode screen might make sense in the context of an even more individualized version of Apple’s HomePod that also has its own display.

Following the scrubbing of an Apple Car, those same engineers were reported to be tasked with various projects under the company’s new home robotics division, including a table-topped device featuring a built-in display. The Bloomberg piece refers to this as a “HomePod that has prongs attached to the screen, is able to steer like an electric arm,” likening it more akin puppet mastering users during FaceTime meetings. Though this is a lofty idea, Apple may confront problems with price as well as the logistics of balancing the arm’s weight.

Apple’s Robotics Efforts

Given the previous lackluster reception of the $349 HomePod, a more budget-friendly approach might be more viable for Apple, focusing on cost-effective solutions rather than cutting-edge features.