According to the popular Apple analyst, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman suggests in his Power On newsletter that Apple’s rumored first smart home display might sport the classic iMac G4 look.
Gurman writes that the new smart home display will be small and will have a square display angled above a small base, making it “reminiscent of the circular bottom of the iMac G4 from a couple of decades ago.”
It also might have speakers that will make it the HomePod with a screen, which is rumored to be one of Apple’s possible smart home futures.
Although Mark Gurman hasn’t revealed how much the device will cost, he has dropped hints that it’s an “affordable” smart home device with a square display.
He also reported that Apple’s upcoming smart display, designed as a rival to Amazon’s Echo Show and Google’s Nest Hub, will run on the A18 chip. This chip would enable support for Apple Intelligence and allow access to Apple’s suite of AI-powered features, which is currently not supported on Apple’s home lineup due to the lack of hardware support.
It is also expected to run the bespoke versions of some Apple apps, like FaceTime, Calendar, and Notes. This smart display would run on a new operating system called homeOS that’s based on the Apple TV’s tvOS.
Many rumors also suggest that Apple will be releasing a $1,000 model with a robotic arm that moves the display around. However, this device won’t be available until 2026.
We would have to wait till next year to find out whether this device will live up to its fame. For now, we only know that the company is planning to release the smart home display as early as the spring of 2025.
