Apple recently announced it was discontinuing the original HomePod and focusing on the HomePod mini instead. But that doesn’t mean the HomePod mini will always be the only product in the range.
Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman writes (in the same article where he mentions the hidden sensor in the HomePod mini), that Apple is developing “new speakers with screens and cameras”.
A HomePod with a built-in iPad-like screen and camera for group conversations would be a completely different and far more versatile offering than the original, music-focused HomePod – a competitor to Nest Hub Max, Echo Show and Facebook Portal. It would also provide a central interface for controlling HomeKit-compatible smart home products, while the camera could be used to authenticate users.
Mark Gurman warns that no launch is imminent, however. The new speakers are only prototypes for now, and may never hit the market as finished products.
You can pick up a bargain on the current range with our roundup of the best HomePod deals. Read our round up of HomePod with screen rumours.
This article originally appeared on Macworld Sweden. Translation by David Price.