It is rumored to include a redesigned display and the company's upcoming S8 processor.
According to Mark Gurman of Bloomberg, Apple wants to introduce a "deluge" of new products this fall and in the first half of 2023. And while many of the allegedly in-development items by the corporation won't come as much of a surprise, one is intriguing.
Gurman claims Apple is getting set to release a new HomePod speaker that will resemble the original 2018 model in both appearance and sound in his most recent Power On email. You might remember that the HomePod was discontinued by the firm in 2021 without a direct replacement being revealed. Right now, the $99 HomePod mini is your only choice if you want a smart speaker with Siri integrated in.
Gurman claims that the new version will have an updated display on top of the speaker that might support multi-touch, as well as Apple's upcoming S8 chip. To put things in perspective, the HomePod small has an S5 chip, indicating the upcoming model will have more computing capability. Apple probably intends to price the speaker more reasonably than it did for the 2018 model. The HomePod was one of the priciest smart speakers available at the time, costing $349, and it never felt like it justified the price.
In addition to a new HomePod, Gurman claims that Apple is also developing at least four new Mac models and an improved version of the AirPods Pro. The complete specifics of Apple's upcoming product roadmap, which Bloomberg calls "one of the most ambitious" in the company's recent history, can be seen there.
The smart speaker will apparently be powered by the S8 SiP, which will make its debut on the Apple Watch Series 8 later this year. The chip's specifications appear to be only slightly better than those of the S7 from last year. The HomePod small has an S5 SiP in it, while the original HomePod has an A8 chip within.
The next HomePod should have substantially greater sound quality and bass than the HomePod small due to its larger size. Despite receiving high praise for its superior sound quality, Apple discontinued the first HomePod in 2021 due to weak sales. As a result, even after the Cupertino giant stopped selling it, its price has increased.
The price of the new HomePod will continue to be important. If it costs the same $299 as the first HomePod, it is unlikely to succeed. Additionally, according to Gurman, the AirPods Pro 2 will include a newer chip and higher-quality audio playback.
According to Gurman, Cupertino is also developing a new Apple TV under the codename J255. It will have an A14 processor and an extra gig of RAM. Running games designed for tvOS 16 with this extra power should be beneficial.
The A12 processor and 3GB of RAM are present in the 2021 Apple TV. A new Siri Remote for Apple TV may be introduced simultaneously with the new model, according to iOS 16 betas. A new Apple TV with an improved "cost structure" may debut in the second half of 2022, according to TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
