Apple May Launch All-New HomePod with Touchscreen, FaceTime Camera

Apple may be working on new HomePod models to compete with Amazon’s Echo Show, Google’s Nest Hub Max, and Facebook’s Portal, hints Mark Gurman in a recent Bloomberg report. These new intelligent speakers may be more than just a speaker and may also include a touchscreen display as well as a camera.

In his report on the unactivated temperature and humidity sensor in the HomePod mini, Gurman mentions that Apple reportedly is “developing new speakers with screens and cameras.” Presumably, these new smart speakers would allow for FaceTime calling and HomeKit integration.

Gurman cautions that these new HomePods are still just a rumor and that “a launch isn’t imminent.”

Apple, earlier this month, announced that it was sunsetting its full-sized HomePod, and this discontinuation wasn’t surprising. Sales of the HomePod have been slow pretty much since launch, due in part to the speaker’s high price tag. Apple unveiled its HomePod mini last year with a smaller form factor and lower price for the masses.

Despite these improvements, Gurman says Apple does not have a “unifying strategy” for its smart home speaker lineup. He also claims that some people within the company believe it’s Siri to blame for lagging sales and not the speaker hardware.

Siri, though helpful, is not as robust as Google Assistant or Alexa. Siri is limited when compared to its competitors that do as much and more, making Apple’s HomePod speakers less attractive to some consumers.

[The information provided in this article has NOT been confirmed by Apple and may be speculation. Provided details may not be factual. Take all rumors, tech or otherwise, with a grain of salt.]