Mark Gurman said that Apple is likely to release a successor to the original HomePod next year that will feature a new display on top of the device.
The smart speaker will have the same size and sound quality as the original, but will be powered by the Apple Watch Series 8 chip, according to the journalist.
The HomePod, code-named B620, will run the same S8 chip coming to the watches and will be closer to the original HomePod in terms of size and audio performance rather than a new HomePod mini. The new HomePod will have an updated display on top and there's even been some talk of multi-touch functionality.
The S8 chip in the new HomePod will have the same specifications as the S7 chip, which was used in the Apple Watch Series 6. The HomePod mini uses the same chip as the Apple Watch Series 5.
According to Gurman, Apple put plans for a direct successor to the HomePod on hold. According to Gurman, Apple is working on new models with a display and a camera to compete with the likes of Amazon's Echo Show and Facebook's Portal, although that now sounds like a different device altogether.
An updated version of the HomePod could come in the first quarter of 2023, according to an Apple analyst. Fans of the discontinued model will not be concerned by the lack of innovation in hardware design.
Apple's first attempt at a smart speaker was the original HomePod. The HomePod was discontinued by Apple due to poor sales.
A new Mac mini with an M2 Pro chip and a new Apple TV with an A14 chip were mentioned in Gurman's latest newsletter.
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