The market for smart displays is currently dominated by Amazon and Google. However, the Amazon Echo Show 8 and Google Nest Hub may soon have competition from Apple, as suggested by a new report from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman.
Gurman reports that Apple is pushing forward with a project to develop a mounted display to function as a centralized smart home control center. Instead of simply placing an iPad on top of a HomePod 2, Apple is reportedly designing a display equipped with a full “robotic arm” capable of tilting, rotating 360 degrees, and automatically adjusting to face users in the room during a FaceTime call.
Thanks to a combination of Siri and Apple Intelligence, the device will feature voice activation and the ability to recognize various individuals, along with probable integration with Apple’s extensive array of services such as Apple Music and HomeKit devices.
While this project has been discussed for some time now (as we’ve reported on previously), Gurman states that the company is now focusing on its development. According to him, Apple has assigned oversight to Kevin Lynch, vice president of technology, and there is even a potential release timeframe: 2026 or 2027.
The unfortunate news? The device’s price is expected to land around the $1,000 range, significantly higher than Amazon’s Echo Show 10 ($329.99, Amazon) which also includes a display, speaker, and rotation feature.
Apple has a team of “several hundred people” dedicated to working on the device, but uncertainties remain as details may evolve throughout the development process. Recall the Apple Car?
Still, Apple currently possesses a capable smart speaker, a growing AI-enhanced voice assistant, and the leading tablet in the industry. Merging these three elements into a new product to challenge Amazon and Google’s dominance in smart home technology appears highly logical. This is achievable even without an elaborate robotic appendage.
