Apple has several new smart home products in development, and with rumors of an initial low-cost smart home controller mounting over the past few months, BloombergMark Gurman has explained some new details in The latest edition of his Power On newsletter.
According to Gorman, the smart home device is scheduled to launch sometime next year and will feature a hemispherical base with a small screen positioned at an angle on the base, making it resemble the design of the popular G4 iMac from two decades ago.
Following up on previous rumors that the device will include a “square” display, Gurman points out that the display and device as a whole may be smaller than many expected, with the screen being “the size of two iPhones side-by-side.”
The small size is said to be part of Apple’s efforts to keep prices low, allowing users to distribute multiple units in different rooms around the house.
The original iMac G4As previously described, the smart home device will run a number of iPad-like apps that make sense for its intended purpose, including FaceTime, Notes, and Calendar, as well as serving as a hub for smart home controls and the ability to view photos and videos. Video slideshows. Gorman says it’s “possible” that there will be speakers at the base of the device, allowing it to function as a HomePod-like device as well.
Beyond this initial smart home device, Gorman previously described a more ambitious product with a larger screen mounted on a robotic arm that can automatically recognize and track users as they move around a room. This high-end product will likely retail for around $1,000 and won’t launch until 2026 at the earliest.
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