Apple Likely to Launch HomePod With Touchscreen; Leaked Images Suggest Design

Apple launched its second-gen HomePod smart speaker earlier this year in India. It comes with a mesh exterior, along with backlit touch surface on the top of the cylindrical body. The company is now reportedly working on new HomePod speakers that feature a touch display. In March, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo indicated that the California-based tech giant is likely to launch a redesigned HomePod in the first half of 2024, and it may sport a 7-inch touchscreen. Now, there has been a new leak suggesting the design of the HomePod with a touch display. 

According to an X post by user Kosutami (@KosutamiSan), Apple is working on a HomePod frame shell that may come with a glass on top, said to be used for as a touch display, with black bezels. The post hints that its design appears to be similar to that of the second-gen Apple HomePod. The post doesn't reveal further details about the speaker. It is important to note here that Apple launched the HomePod (2nd Gen) nearly two years after it discontinued the first-gen HomePod. 

Earlier, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo had also reported about Apple working on a HomePod with a touchscreen. The report stated that Apple could launch a redesigned HomePod with a 7-inch touchscreen panel in the first half of 2024. Tianma, who is suggested to be an exclusive partner of Apple for the speaker, supplies displays to other businesses. 

With the launch of a HomePod sporting a touchscreen, Apple could compete with Google's Nest Hub and Amazon's Echo Show models. So far, Apple has been lagging behind its competitors when it comes to smart speakers. 

Meanwhile, the second-gen HomePod smart speaker comes with Apple's personal assistant Siri and an S7 processor. It is priced in India at Rs. 32,900 and is available in White and Midnight colour option.