New HomePod rumored to be equipped with LCD screen exposed

The first-generation HomePod was discontinued in March 2021, with Apple subsequently unveiling its second-generation successor earlier this year. Recent whispers, however, suggest that Apple might introduce a HomePod replete with an LCD display.

User ‘X’ @KosutamiSan recently divulged a series of photographs on his personal page, ostensibly depicting prototype designs of this new HomePod iteration. Its silhouette largely mirrors the existing HomePod, yet it’s crowned with a feature that appears to be a display screen. One photograph even highlights the term “LcdUTest”.

https://twitter.com/KosutamiSan/status/1715673352986403091

Presently, intricate details of this purported HomePod remain shrouded in mystery, and the definitive purpose of the integrated LCD screen is unclear. It’s plausible, though, that it could serve as a conduit for displaying expanded information, providing users with a visual cue for current volume levels, playback details, and more.

Yet, this seems somewhat at odds with earlier speculations which hinted at a fully functional display. Prior market rumors postulated that Apple was on the cusp of releasing a device, an amalgam of HomePod, Apple TV, and FaceTime functionalities. Apple also appears to be fine-tuning its tvOS operating system and is reportedly poised to roll out a brand-new ‘homeOS’, ostensibly to streamline the user experience between HomePod and Apple TV.

For now, it remains nebulous whether Apple indeed intends to debut a new HomePod variant, and the designs currently in circulation, seemingly in their prototype phase, might undergo metamorphosis for specific reasons in the future.