Apple is rumored to be working on new smart home products. Bloomberg’s Mark Garman reported that the company is developing wall-mounted displays for controlling home appliances, interacting with Siri, and video conferencing. The tablet is said to be “similar to a square iPad” with an “approximately 6-inch screen.” It has a camera on top, as well as an internal speaker and a rechargeable battery. His sources say the smart home display has been in development for three years and could be officially unveiled as early as March.
This description is very similar to the Google Home Hub, which debuted in 2018, and the Echo Show, which is already in its eighth generation. If Apple wants to become a serious contender in this smart home space, it needs to prove to customers that it has something to offer these more established brands and products.
The only distinguishing features for now are probably Apple Intelligence, which finally started rolling out to users in late October, and the upcoming App Intents system for controlling software programs with AI. But Apple may be aiming for something more fancy than just a smart device control panel. Garman said Apple is already working on a version with a robotic arm that can move the tablet. It should be interesting to know exactly what and when Apple will officially release it.
