Apple Reportedly Developing A HomePod With A 7-Inch Display, Which Will Be Equipped With The Current-Generation A18; Rumored Launch Said To Happen In 2025

A complete revamp of the HomePod is expected in 2025 as Apple will reportedly introduce some massive changes to its smart speaker, starting with a touchscreen. The company is likely incorporating a display as it wants to compete better with its rivals and deliver an upgraded and fresh experience to users. Additionally, the latest information claims that an A18 will arrive to the HomePod, the same SoC that powers the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus.

The 7-inch panels of the new HomePod will be provided by Chinese supplier, with Apple striking an exceptional deal with the manufacturer

A paywalled report published by DigiTimes that was spotted by MacRumors provides details on what to expect from the new HomePod in 2025. Apparently, Tianma will be Apple’s exclusive supplier for the smart speaker, with the device sporting LCD technology to reduce the components cost. The Cupertino giant is said to have received a phenomenal deal where it only has to pay $10 per display for the HomePod, meaning that it has the opportunity to price the product competitively and take on its rivals more effectively.

As for the A18 chip said to be a part of the innards, we want to believe that with the addition of the 7-inch display and the bigger space, the HomePod should be compatible with AAA games, and the best part is that the SoC will not thermal throttle like it often does on the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus. However, with such a small market to capture, it makes little sense to introduce games on the platform. Fortunately, there is another purpose that the A18 can serve, which is Apple Intelligence.

Then again, to get support for Apple’s generative AI features, the device needs to support at least 8GB of RAM, which the new HomePod will likely be treated to. Sadly, the pricing details were not mentioned in the report, but given that Google and Amazon have successfully tightened a noose in this category by having a multitude of smart speakers in different pricing brackets, we strongly feel that affordability will give Apple a massive advantage.

News Source: DigiTimes