Gurman: Apple Still Working on Combined HomePod and Apple TV With FaceTime Camera

Monday April 18, 2022 4:27 am PDT by Tim Hardwick

Apple is still working on a new HomePod product that combines a speaker, Apple TV functions, and a FaceTime camera, according to reliable Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman.

AppleTV and HomePod Feature
In the Q&A section of his latest Power On newsletter, Gurman said he "absolutely" thinks that a new ‌HomePod‌ is coming that will likely be "at the center of Apple's approach" to the home.

Q: Do you think a new HomePod or home device is still coming?
A: I absolutely do think a new HomePod is coming — specifically, a device that combines a HomePod, Apple TV and FaceTime camera. I don't think a big stand-alone HomePod is still in development, but perhaps a new HomePod mini is coming. In any case, the combination product will probably be at the center of Apple's approach, with HomePod minis surrounding that throughout the home.

Gurman first suggested last year that Apple was working on a combined ‌Apple TV‌ with ‌HomePod‌ speaker that has a camera for video calls through a connected television set. In April 2021, Gurman said the device's other capabilities would include standard ‌Apple TV‌ box functions like watching video and gaming plus smart speaker uses such as playing music and using Apple's Siri digital assistant.

At the time of the original report, the product was said to be in the early stages, and that Apple could choose not to launch the product or change key features. However, based on Gurman's latest reading of the situation, Apple's original plans are still firmly in place.

Apple discontinued its original high-end ‌‌HomePod‌‌ in March 2021, which left many wondering if the company was working on a successor. The HomePod mini, a smaller version of the ‌HomePod‌ which launched in 2020, has been much more popular thanks to its lower price, so it wouldn't be surprising if Apple eventually launched another version of the ‌HomePod mini‌ down the line with new features, as Gurman suggests. But what a device would look like that combines a ‌HomePod‌, ‌Apple TV‌, and ‌FaceTime‌ camera still remains unclear.

Related Roundups: HomePod, HomePod mini

Tag: Mark Gurman

Buyer's Guide: HomePod (Neutral), HomePod Mini (Don't Buy)

Top Rated Comments

RedTheReader

52 months ago

I can’t believe they killed the original HomePod. And to think, when it came out, I really thought we’d see an eventual HomePod Max. Ohhhh, how wrong I was! Ohhhhhhh, the humanity!

Rest easy, HomePod. You were one of the good ones. Sorry you have to see… whatever this thing is replace you.

Score: 29 Votes (Like | Disagree)

44267547

52 months ago

Apple lost my dollars a long time ago on home theater with how many missed opportunities they have had on HomePod. So this will not be getting purchased. Already have a lot of Sonos stuff after selling OG HomePods off

The OG HomePod was one of my favorite devices Apple has ever released in terms of an accessory product, next to the Apple Watch. They failed to market it properly and they were ‘late to the game’ per se for the release, but it’s an outstanding device that has loads of potential.

Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Orange Bat

52 months ago

They’re basically making a smart soundbar. Sounds cool, hopefully it isn’t priced in an insane fashion.

My guess is that it will come in between $399 and $499. IMO, that‘s too expensive for casual users like myself. In fact, the Apple TV 4K is still too expensive considering the cost of the competition. It needs to be about $50 less than it is now. You can pick up a Roku Ultra (my current streaming box) for $69 at Amazon (normally $100). You can buy a decent soundbar with Roku built in at $179, the same price as the Apple TV.

Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)