Alleged photos of a HomePod prototype with an LCD screen on top have surfaced online. They showcase the smart speaker with a big touch-based LCD panel on top.
Apple’s current-gen HomePod has a small touch surface on top for controlling music playback and volume.
Pictures of HomePod prototype with LCD panel surface online
Leaker Kosutami shared the photos of a prototype HomePod on X. In the post, he claims the shell of the speaker is similar to the 2nd gen HomePod and not the first one.
iFuck thought had never made a HP with touchScreen before, but it is happened, it used to be my AprilFool's joke pic.twitter.com/FUvS4HcYj7
— Kosutami (@KosutamiSan) October 21, 2023
The leak was corroborated by 9to5Mac sources, confirming that Apple is indeed working on a speaker with an LCD panel on top codenamed B720. This is seemingly an advanced prototype, indicating that the product is nearing the end of its developmental phase.
The LcdUTest app shown running on the HomePod in the second X post is an internal app Apple engineers use to test the display. Seemingly, the display will show a blurred animation of the album art of the song or podcast that is playing.
Additionally, the code found in tvOS 17 suggests that Apple Music and Podcasts are among the first apps Apple is rewriting to run on the HomePod’s display. It’s unclear how Apple plans to further take advantage of the in-development HomePod’s top display panel.
HomePod with a screen could launch in 2024
Rumors of Apple working on a HomePod with a screen have circulated since October 2022. The Bloomberg report claimed Apple was working on an iPad cradle that could also function as a HomePod. In March 2023, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claimed the next-gen HomePod could have a 7-inch display and launch in 2024. This move will seemingly be a part of Apple’s new home strategy.
The new HomePod is still in development, and there’s always a possibility that Apple could scrap its launch plans. The company has not had much success with its HomePod lineup so far, with Google Assistant and Alexa-powered smart speakers and displays dominating the market.
