Possible Rewrite: “Leaked Images Suggest Apple’s Touchscreen HomePod Design”

Apple Reportedly Working on HomePod Speakers with Touch Display

Apple launched its second-gen HomePod smart speaker earlier this year in India. Featuring a mesh exterior and a backlit touch surface, the cylindrical body of the speaker impressed users. Now, the company is reportedly developing new HomePod speakers that will incorporate a touch display. According to well-known analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple is expected to release a redesigned HomePod with a 7-inch touchscreen in the first half of 2024. In alignment with Kuo’s prediction, a recent leak has surfaced suggesting the design of the HomePod with a touch display.

User Kosutami (@KosutamiSan) posted on Twitter about an Apple HomePod frame shell with a glass top, believed to function as a touch display, and black bezels. The design of this potential new HomePod seems similar to that of the second-gen Apple HomePod. Further details about the speaker are currently undisclosed. Notably, Apple released the HomePod (2nd Gen) almost two years after discontinuing the first-gen HomePod.

Another report by analyst Ming-Chi Kuo supports the idea of Apple working on a HomePod with a touchscreen. According to Kuo’s report, Apple might launch a redesigned HomePod with a 7-inch touchscreen panel in the first half of 2024. Tianma, a suggested exclusive partner of Apple for the speaker, supplies displays to other businesses.

If Apple does release a HomePod with a touchscreen, it will be able to directly compete with Google’s Nest Hub and Amazon’s Echo Show models. Up until now, Apple has lagged behind its competitors in the smart speaker market.

Features of the Second-Gen HomePod

The second-gen HomePod smart speaker comes equipped with Apple’s personal assistant Siri and an S7 processor. Priced at Rs. 32,900 in India, this smart speaker is available in White and Midnight color options.