Apple is working on a mysterious new smart home accessory, according to a new leak
Apple has long been rumored to be working on a smart speaker with a built-in screen to compete with products like the Amazon Echo Show, but now news site MacRumors reports claims to have definitive proof that Apple has something up its sleeve.
Until now, most information about such a device has been limited to supply chain rumors and analyst opinions, but MacRumors says it has discovered code “on the backend of Apple” that would confirm the company is working on a mysterious home accessory.
While the leak itself doesn’t provide any evidence, it does seem to confirm a product that has been speculated about for a long time. The device combines a HomePod-like speaker with an adjustable touchscreen display.
The code in question refers to a device identified by the codename “HomeAccessory17,1.” Interestingly, this is the first Apple device to bear the “HomeAccessory” tag, suggesting that it’s a device in an entirely new product category – and lending weight to the idea that this is the mooted HomePod-with-a-screen device that’s unlike anything Apple has made before.
Powered by the A18 chip
That’s not the only interesting tidbit in the identifier: the number 17.1 also offers a hint or two. That’s because Apple uses numbers like this to reveal which chip will be inside its devices. As we saw earlier this week, the “17” is thought to refer to the A18-series chips (the discrepancy between the numbers is a quirk of Apple’s numbering convention), implying the home accessory will be equipped with the same chip as the upcoming iPhone 16 line.
With the A18 in tow, the home accessory would presumably be able to run Apple Intelligence. Apple’s brand-new artificial intelligence (AI) platform requires at least an A17 Pro chip. The entry-level A18 (as opposed to the A18 Pro) would reportedly be based on the A17 Pro, meaning the home accessory could run Apple Intelligence and really give your smart home a boost. Additionally, it would likely run the upgraded version of Siri coming in iOS 18, since the existing HomePod relies heavily on Apple’s virtual assistant.
MacRumors says the code also suggests the home accessory will run a variant of Apple TV’s tvOS. Apple has long been rumored to be working on an operating system specifically for smart home devices (unsurprisingly called “homeOS”), and this variant could be the first version of that operating system. The code also makes reference to two unreleased Apple TV models, identified as AppleTV14.4 and AppleTV14.5, which could launch later in 2024.
With this newly discovered code seemingly confirming Apple’s plans for a mysterious new home accessory, it may not be long before we find out exactly what Apple has been working on. Apple’s next big launch party is its special event in September, where all could be revealed.
