For several months now, we've been hearing regularly about the arrival of a new Apple product. The device, with a 7-inch square screen, is said to be halfway between a smart speaker like the HomePod and an iPad. This is why it's often referred to unofficially as a "HomePad." It's said to be the central element of Apple's new strategy to establish itself in the smart home market, currently dominated by Google and Amazon. The smart screen would pave the way for a host of other devices designed for home automation, including a smart robotic arm controlled by voice.
A screen not as good as the iPad mini's
While the screen's release will still be months away, the beta version of iOS 18.6 has confirmed the device's existence. By digging into the update's code, our colleagues at 9to5Mac were able to determine that "work on the project continues." A file appeared in the code of a framework with the suffix "home." This suffix refers to homeOS, the home automation operating system. According to the media outlet, "Apple continues to work behind the scenes on the device.".
Furthermore, the iOS update discloses the screen resolution of the so-called "HomePad." Indeed, Apple slipped into its system an image file that appears to be designed for a screen 2176 pixels wide. That's almost as big as the iPad mini's 8.3-inch screen. However, the connected screen wouldn't exceed 7 inches, according to information from journalist Mark Gurman.
De facto, the smart screen would offer a lower pixel density than that of the iPad mini. In other words, the display quality of the HomePod hybrid would be lower than that of Apple's affordable tablet. This limitation isn't a deal breaker. The smart screen is designed for short interactions, such as controlling a connected lamp or another object in the home automation system. It's not necessarily designed to allow you to watch movies and series for hours, although that should be possible.
Furthermore, the user would have to stand a good distance from the screen, which is designed to be placed on a piece of furniture or mounted on the wall. It won't be a few centimeters from the touchscreen, as is the case with an iPad. So, there's no need for high-end display quality. These technical limitations should, in any case, allow Apple to contain the price of the hybrid HomePod.
The latest news is that Apple will wait until spring 2026 to unveil its smart display. The Cupertino giant is dependent on the development of the new Siri. Powered by generative AI, this new voice assistant would play a key role in the success of the product, as well as in homeOS, the operating system that powers it.
Source: 9to5Mac
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