Bloomberg: Apple is working on iPad-like smart display for smart home control

Apple may be working on a new line of smart home products in addition to the HomePod speaker announced on Wednesday. This is reported by Apple insider and Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman. The company would introduce, among other things, an iPad-like smart screen.

According to Gurman sources Apple’s smart display is ‘essentially a low-end iPad’. The display would mainly be used to control smart home equipment such as smart thermostats and lighting. The screen must also support relatively simple tasks such as video playback and FaceTime. The product can be attached in the house with magnets, for example on a wall. In the long term, the company would also consider making larger smart home screens, although Gurman does not mention specific sizes. It is not yet known when the screen will be released.

Apple is said to be further working on a refresh of the Apple TV, which should be released in the first half of 2024. The new variant would have a faster SoC, but does not yet support 8k display. Earlier this year, Apple released a new Apple TV 4K that was cheaper than its predecessor and came with at least 64GB of storage. The current Apple TV 4K has an A15 Bionic SoC, which is used in the iPhone 13 series, iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus phones, and the iPad mini.

In addition, Apple’s project for a HomePod smart speaker with an integrated Apple TV media player has been delayed, according to Gurman, although the company is still working on it. The device was initially planned for this year, but would now not be released until 2024 at the earliest. Bloomberg wrote for the first time in 2021 about its possible arrival.