Apple’s next HomePod is tipped to be its take on the Amazon Echo Show

Do you want a HomePod with a screen?

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Following the surprise return of the HomePod smart speaker earlier this year, there are reports suggestingApplecould launch a new model in 2024 to take on theAmazon EchoShow.

Alongside its iPad tablets, Mac computers, and other tech, Apple also produces a range of smart speakers called HomePods, the most recent of which is theHomePod 2. The devices are very sonically capable – in ourHomePod 2 reviewwe said they deliver “mind-blowing” sound that trumps most other smart speakers, although we also noted that they feel a little too locked into the Apple ecosystem, and are pretty pricey.

The HomePod line also currently lacks an answer to the likes of Amazon’s Echo Show smart displays, which are effectively screens attached to smart speakers. Alongside the typical functionality of a smart speaker, a smart display can use its screen to visually relay information. This can include showing you a video feed from your smart home cameras, a recipe while you cook a meal, or content from some of thebest streaming services.

According to Ming-Chi Kuo – an Apple analyst with a strong track record for accurate leaks – Apple could be looking to fill this gap in its lineup in 2024 by launching a HomePod with a screen.

Kuo saysApple is partnering with Tianma, a Chinese display manufacturer, as part of its “revamped smart home strategy.” Kuo predicts that this collaboration will see the launch of a HomePod with a 7-inch screen sometime in the first half of 2024, with this new product also enabling “tighter integration with Apple’s other hardware.”

One advantage we expect a HomePod with a screen would likely offer over Amazon’s smart displays is better sound. A common theme of our Amazon Echo show reviews – including ourAmazon Echo Show 15 reviewandAmazon Echo Show 5 (2nd generation) review– is that the devices have lackluster audio capabilities. Audio is the one area where HomePods have excelled, and we’d expect a HomePod with a screen to continue this trend.

We’ll have to wait and see if Kuo is correct with his prediction, and also to find out exactly what he means by “tighter integration” – perhaps you’ll be able to use the HomePod to Face Time someone on an iPhone or iPad, or manage your phone’s files and notifications from smart display.

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Hamish is a Senior Staff Writer for TechRadar and you’ll see his name appearing on articles across nearly every topic on the site from smart home deals to speaker reviews to graphics card news and everything in between. He uses his broad range of knowledge to help explain the latest gadgets and if they’re a must-buy or a fad fueled by hype. Though his specialty is writing about everything going on in the world of virtual reality and augmented reality.

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