Apple is rumored to be launching the newest version of the HomePod next year.
Apple is rumored to be considering reviving the original HomePod series, despite having released the HomePod mini and calling an end to production of the original HomePod series earlier this year. It is expected to be back.
Bloomberg analyst Mark Gurman claims that the tech giant is currently working on a home speaker that will function and look very similar to the first HomePod.
The reintroduction of the original HomePod series is rumored to include the development of an entirely new design.
Apple Is Bringing Back the Original HomePod
Apple is planning to release a new version of the HomePod, which will likely include a new display on the top of the device, new touch interaction support, and an upgraded chipset.
The Bloomberg journalist said that the smart speaker will have a size and audio quality comparable to the original HomePod, which has since been discontinued.
He also said that the HomePod will be powered by the future Apple Watch Series 8 chip, which will be known as the S8 processor.
To provide context, the current iteration of the HomePod mini utilizes the S5 chip, which was first seen in the Apple Watch Series 5 device.
Apple's smart speakers, the HomePod, were first introduced in 2017 in an increasingly competitive market for smart speakers.
Gurman claims that the S8 chip that will be used in the new HomePod will have the same capabilities as the S7 chip.
The S7, which in turn has the same capabilities as the S6 chip that will be used in the Apple Watch Series 6 in the year 2020.
Apple's HomePod Rumors
According to MacRumors, Gurman was the first to report in 2021 that Apple had abandoned plans for a direct successor to the HomePod, which had been scheduled to debut in 2022.
As MacRumors also reported, "Since then, Gurman has reported that Apple is working on new HomePod models with a display and a camera to compete with the likes of Amazon's Echo Show and Facebook's Portal, although that now sounds like a different device altogether."
However, Gurman is not the only analyst who is convinced of this project; apparently, the reputable Apple analyst, Ming-Chi Kuo, also believes so.
Kuo is convinced that the company is working on an updated version of the HomePod that could come out in either the fourth quarter of 2022 or the first quarter of 2023.
When compared to the first-generation HomePod, Kuo warned that there may not be very dramatic changes or innovation in the hardware design.
Apple stopped producing the HomePod in March 2021 in order to concentrate on the HomePod mini. The halt in the production of the original HomePod is also because of the decreased sales.
As reported by Hypebeast, Apple is reportedly planning to price the smart speaker in a range that is even more approachable despite having superior processing power.
The price for the original smart speaker back then went as high as $350 USD and its HomePod mini only for $100.
However, despite the rumors coming from reputable analysts, it is still not 100% confirmed by Apple that they are releasing the smart speakers this year or next year.
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