Apple is set to launch the HomePad in 2025, a smart home display designed to compete with Google and Amazon’s offerings. This 6-inch device will feature a touchscreen and voice command capabilities, integrating with Apple’s ecosystem including HomeKit. The HomePad aims to enhance connected home experiences, with speculated features like magnetic charging bases, camera for FaceTime, and security options. Its design may include wall mounting and a standalone battery, catering to user convenience and home monitoring.
Apple’s Upcoming HomePad: A Smart Home Revolution in 2025
Following the much-anticipated Vision Pro set to launch in 2024, Apple appears poised to unveil the “HomePad,” a dedicated smart home display, in 2025. Renowned for its cautious approach to entering new markets, Apple is now gearing up to take on competitors like Google and Amazon in the smart home arena. Bloomberg, a reliable source of insider information, recently shared an in-depth article outlining the potential features of this innovative device.
The HomePad aims to compete with established products like the Google Nest Hub and the Amazon Echo Show. According to Bloomberg, this gadget will resemble a 6-inch square tablet—roughly the size of two iPhones placed side by side. It will showcase widgets and applications from iOS, iPadOS, and watchOS, including popular features like FaceTime and Home. This move is designed to enhance Apple’s smart home ecosystem, which includes HomeKit and Matter, while paving the way for future product launches.
Design and Functionality: A Wall-Mounted Smart Display
There are several intriguing aspects surrounding Apple’s HomePad project, particularly its potential overlap with existing iPads in households. To differentiate this home tablet from its versatile tablet line, Apple is expected to introduce magnetic charging bases that feature built-in speakers, similar to the Pixel Tablet. This would enable users to easily relocate the device throughout the home, provided they have the necessary mounts.
Bloomberg reports that the HomePad will prioritize features related to the connected home, Siri, and communication. While it will feature a touchscreen, the device will primarily rely on voice commands, akin to the HomePod. Users can enjoy functionalities like playing music, adjusting the home temperature, or making FaceTime calls, thanks to an integrated camera. Although similar in concept to Google and Amazon’s home tablets, Apple is expected to elevate the user experience with advanced features, such as a proximity sensor that adjusts the displayed information based on user activity.
With its compact 6-inch screen, the HomePad may be smaller than an iPad mini, raising questions about its role as a standalone tablet. It’s likely that the screen will primarily serve to display essential information like the time or the status of connected devices, reminiscent of the iPhone’s “Sleep” interface when charging. The device will also feature a battery, suggesting it can be used outside its mount, although it will not support third-party applications, limiting users to Apple’s offerings.
As Apple prepares to roll out additional connected home products—rumored to include a privacy-focused surveillance camera and a robotic arm—the HomePad is seen as a strategic move to maintain user loyalty. Emphasizing security, the HomePad may allow users to view camera feeds or intercoms without requiring an Internet connection. Additionally, an integrated alarm system could provide peace of mind while monitoring the home during periods of absence. When idle, the HomePad could even transform into a digital photo frame.
The design of the HomePad remains a topic of speculation. According to Bloomberg, Apple is working on a wall mount that allows the device to be hung on walls, serving as a high-tech switch. Users could also detach it to relocate it to other rooms using more traditional mounts. However, how Apple plans to conceal the power supply within a wall remains unclear.
For enthusiasts of smart home technology, the prospect of a touch-responsive switch that responds to voice commands is undoubtedly thrilling. Conversely, others may perceive the HomePad as merely a gadget. It will be crucial for Apple to enhance its appeal, especially given the generally low public interest in connected home solutions.