Apple’s smart home products, which have remained largely unchanged for a long time, are getting ready to be renewed this year. According to the information shared by Mark Gurman from Bloomberg, the company is in the final stages of developing new Apple TV and HomePod mini models. These devices are planned to meet with users in the autumn months. Thus, Apple will have made the hardware updates that have been expected for several years on the smart home side.
While Amazon and Google have expanded their ecosystems with artificial intelligence-supported assistants and connected home devices in recent years, Apple’s products in this field have shown a more limited development. The company is now preparing for a more comprehensive smart home approach shaped around the new generation version of Siri and Apple Intelligence technologies. It is stated that the new Apple TV and HomePod mini models will be among the first steps of this transformation.
According to information provided by Bloomberg, the new Apple TV hardware is largely ready. Gurman states that Apple aimed to launch the device at an earlier date, but the schedule was pushed forward due to delays on the Siri and Apple Intelligence side. For this reason, the launch of the product will take place later than planned.
New Apple TV and HomePod mini will focus on artificial intelligence features
No notable changes are expected in the exterior design of the new Apple TV model. However, it is rumored that more comprehensive updates will be made to the internal hardware of the device. It is stated that a more powerful processor is needed, especially for Apple Intelligence features and the advanced Siri experience. It is considered that the A15 Bionic processor, currently used in the Apple TV 4K model, is starting to show its age when compared to Apple’s current product family.
Therefore, a more up-to-date and high-performance chip is expected to be used in the new model. Such a change will not only increase performance but also pave the way for future artificial intelligence-based features. This update on the hardware side is critical, considering Apple’s goal of turning Siri into an assistant that can carry out more natural conversations and better understand context.
On the other hand, it is stated that the innovations planned for HomePod mini are more limited. According to Bloomberg, Apple will focus mainly on improving connectivity and artificial intelligence support in its small smart speaker. Thanks to a newer wireless communication chip, the device is intended to support the updated version of Siri and Apple Intelligence features more efficiently. There are no major changes in design or audio equipment at this stage.
Besides, Apple’s smart home plans are not limited to Apple TV and HomePod mini. It is stated that the company continues to work on a smart home center equipped with a screen and facial recognition features. This product, which was previously reported to have been postponed, is expected to allow managing devices in the Apple ecosystem from a central point. It is stated that artificial intelligence integration will be one of the basic elements of this product.
In addition, it was previously reported that Apple is working on artificial intelligence-supported smart glasses and more advanced versions of Siri. The company’s goal can be summarized as taking Siri beyond traditional voice command systems and offering an experience closer to the chat-based artificial intelligence assistants that are prominent today.
Apple’s smart home products have shown a more static appearance compared to their competitors in recent years. While Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant platforms gained new artificial intelligence capabilities, Siri and the HomePod family could not progress at the same pace. The new Apple TV and HomePod mini models, expected to arrive in the fall, may be among the first concrete steps in Apple’s effort to strengthen its position in this field. However, the main determining factor will not only be new hardware. Apple will need to show its users that Siri and Apple Intelligence technologies can meet the expectations in today’s smart home market.