Apple unveils surprising smart speaker upgrade
Apple has the HomePod and now comes with an upgrade for this smart speaker.
The company has released the HomePod mini, released in November 2020 and updated last year with three vibrant new colors, blue, yellow and orange. According to analyst Gurman, a follow-up product is still in the works, and it will be quite different from the HomePod or HomePod mini.
Apple Smart Speaker
It could be so different that Apple may even rename it. That’s because Gurman claims it will combine, as he puts it, “a HomePod, Apple TV, and FaceTime camera.” We see the added value of merging Apple TV with the HomePod. Because it’s a neat way to ensure perfectly integrated Apple TV sound, with something you can plug into your TV. However, there is a drawback. You have to be close to your screen. The FaceTime camera also limits placement. With a camera you have to point it in a certain direction.
Wouldn’t a new, improved regular HomePod be better then? Gurman says, “I don’t think a major standalone HomePod is in development yet, but maybe a new HomePod mini is coming.”
New device
Presumably the new device will be a combination product with HomePod minis that will then be around the house. That seems logical, the new device then becomes a home entertainment hub. That could mean it’s not a speaker at all, but rather something that connects to HomePod mini speakers for the sound.
Gurman is not convinced about this. And he thinks it will just be a new HomePod with a speaker. Soon we will know.
