HomePod along with its mini version, They are part of the “case” of the Apple devicei.e. products that never gained the notoriety of their first swords, but still managed to gain a significant user base, mainly due to the ecosystem experience they provide to people who already have iPhones, iPads, MacBooks, etc. We can include in this list of course also Apple TV.

This is true in the case of the smart speaker from Apple those of Cupertino have been somewhat erratic in the pastdo. Not for nothing, let’s recall that the original HomePod disappeared from its catalog in March 2021, just a little over three years after its arrival on the market, and a few months after the surprise presentation (and this is becoming less and less common when we speak from Apple) the smallest and the cheapest variant of the speaker, the HomePod mini.

So, Once again, Apple seemed resigned to the high-end speaker market, as it was at the time with the iPod Hi-Fi, a device designed for its MP3 player that offered great sound quality (and I speak from personal experience, because I had one), but probably due to its more high price, it turned out as a sales fiasco. As a result, it only stayed on the market for a little over a year and a half, from February 2006 to September 2007 (if you didn’t know it and are curious, you can check it out here ). However, it only seemed that way as a new version of the original HomePod hit the market earlier this year.

HomePod frame design with completely different glass on top – it’s set up for a touchscreen, with a black bezel
The shell design is similar to the 2nd gen HomePod, not the 1st gen – it stands  may have decided to add 🖥️ for the 2 but ultimately no OR it’s the next gen pic.twitter.com/W5zRIVGPiK

— Kosutami (@KosutamiSan) October 21, 2023

So when the high-end speaker returned to the market, rumors began to emerge about its future plans, and without a doubt the most notable one last March pointed to a new version that will have a screen, which would be scheduled to launch in 2024. It seems that this rumor is confirmed as already known leaker Kosutami posted, on his twitter account, a few images of the yet-to-be-released touchscreen HomePod.

Based on the published images, it seems that we will find a device that will be the same size as its predecessor, the second generation HomePad, and we can say the same with regard to its design. So, although we can expect some improvements in the components used to make it, the most notable is undoubtedly the inclusion of this touch screen, which also adds to the previous information about Cupertino plans to reorient its strategy regarding the smart connected home market.