In the fourth beta version of iOS 26, hints have surfaced that point to a new smart home product from Apple. It's a HomePod with an integrated touchscreen – a device that has been speculated about for some time. Not only the functionality is interesting, but also the possible naming. Instead of the expected "HomePad," Apple could opt for a different name.
Rumors have been circulating for some time about a new Apple device for the smart home sector. It is said to be a HomePod, the first to feature a display. In internal reports and leaks, this device has often been referred to as a "HomePad" – a combination of HomePod and iPad. Nothing has been officially confirmed so far. Now, iOS 26 Beta 4 provides the first concrete clues. Particularly striking is the wording in an internal system text that mentions the ability to "display" information such as the time and weather. This is not possible with previous HomePod models, as they lack a screen.
New note in iOS 26 Beta 4
On the day iOS 26 Beta 4 was released, it was noticed that a certain section of the system software was worded unusually. It states:
Your HomePod cannot show you the local weather and time, nor can it respond to Siri requests about your surroundings.
The term "display" is crucial here. No currently available HomePod has a display. This means that either the wording is a mistake – or it refers to a future device with a screen. Juli Clover of MacRumors discovered this clue . The passage suggests that Apple is already preparing system-side support for a new model with iOS 26. The oddity: There will apparently be no new product name, at least not the previously speculated "HomePad."
Will the new device be called “HomePod Touch”?
The leak continues to refer only to the "HomePod." This suggests that Apple wants to stick with its current brand structure. However, this creates a problem: How can a HomePod with a touchscreen be clearly differentiated from previous models without a display? One possible solution: the name "HomePod Touch." The name is reminiscent of the "iPod Touch," a music device with a screen that also relied on touch inputs. This connection makes sense, as the HomePod is also centered around music. At the same time, the naming logic fits Apple's usual product strategy: retaining well-known brands and adding new variants. The new device would then be the first HomePod with a screen. According to previous information, it will support functions such as weather, time, calendar, and presumably also visual Siri output. The release is currently expected for spring 2026. An official date or confirmation from Apple has not yet been released.
What else iOS 26 brings
In addition to the possible HomePod Touch leak, iOS 26 Beta 4 brings other new features. These include a redesigned Liquid Glass design that makes the user interface appear cleaner and more modern, as well as new wallpapers for CarPlay. Minor adjustments to the system navigation and widgets have also been made. The focus is on refinement rather than major changes—a typical Apple strategy in later beta versions.
HomePod Touch: New model with display is getting closer
The leak in iOS 26 Beta 4 provides concrete evidence of a new HomePod model with a display. The wording used to display information suggests a device with a touchscreen. Previously suspected to be "HomePad," it could instead be called "HomePod Touch"—a logical extension of the existing brand. Apple remains true to its brand essence while significantly expanding its smart home functionality. Release is expected in spring 2026. Further clues are likely to follow in future beta versions. (Image: Shutterstock / Daniel Krason)
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