Analyst: Apple has stopped developing new HomePod models

Apple has temporarily suspended development of new HomePod models, claims TF Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Apple released a HomePod mini this fall, but it would be less successful than hoped.

For the time being, this is a temporary stop of development, MacRumors reports based on a report from Kuo. The HomePod came out over 2.5 years ago, while the HomePod mini came out this fall. Demand for the products is said to be lower than expected and Kuo therefore concludes that Apple has failed to successfully enter the smart speaker market.

Amazon and Google, among others, are in that market. Amazon does that with its Echo models, while Google used to have its Home speakers, while they are now Nest Audio products. In addition, there are many other brands that provide speakers with Amazon’s digital assistant Alexa or Google’s variant Assistant. Analyst firm Canalys calculated in October that Apple would ship around two million HomePods in 2020. That is a fraction of the deliveries of speakers with Alexa or Assistant.

Apple has not responded to the rumor. Kuo further notes that the Apple Car, the electric self-driving car that the company is developing, may enter the market later than previously thought. Reuters previously claimed that Apple wants to release the car in 2024, but Kuo says a release between 2025 and 2028 is more realistic.