Apple rumored to be developing a HomePod with a screen

Apple is rumored to be developing a new HomePod with a screen, and new images have been shared online, reports 9to5Mac.

The image (pictured) was shared by device collector and leaker known as “Kosutami,” who has been accurate in previous reports. The prototype, dubbed B720, is apparently an advanced-stage prototype.

From 9to5Mac: To take advantage of the new HomePod display, Apple has been rewriting some of the tvOS apps so that they can run on different display formats, something that wouldn’t be necessary today since pretty much all TVs have the same aspect ratio. It’s worth noting that HomePod runs a modified version of tvOS without a user interface. There’s evidence in the tvOS 17 code that Apple Music and Apple Podcasts are the first apps being rewritten to be compatible with a new display format.

This isn’t the first report/rumor of a HomePod with a display. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman said in a March“Power  On” newsletter that he expected the tech giant would unveil a redesigned HomePod featuring a 7-inch display in the first half of 2024.

“The HomePod, which equips a panel, could enable tighter integration with Apple’s other hardware products, marking a significant shift in the company’s smart home strategy,” he said.