According to well-informed Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman, Apple is still working on a new HomePod product that combines a speaker, Apple TV features, and a FaceTime camera.
In the question and answer section of his current “Power On” newsletter said Gurman said he "absolutely" believes a new HomePod will be released, which will likely be "the center of Apple's approach" to the home. Asked if Gurman believes such a device is still in development, Gurman responded:
I definitely think a new HomePod is coming - more specifically, a device that combines the HomePod, Apple TV, and FaceTime camera. I don't think a large, standalone HomePod is in development yet, but maybe a new HomePod mini is coming. In any case, the combination product will likely be the focus of Apple's approach, and the HomePod minis will surround it throughout the home.
Gurman first hinted last year that Apple was working on an Apple TV with a HomePod speaker that would feature a camera for video calling via a connected TV.
Will Apple introduce an Apple TV with integrated HomePod and FaceTime features?
In April 2021, Gurman said that in addition to the standard features of an Apple TV box like watching videos and playing games, the device would also offer smart speaker features like playing music and using Apple's digital assistant Siri. At the time of the original report, it was said that the product was still in its early stages and Apple could decide against the product. However, according to Gurman's latest statement, the company still seems to be sticking to the plan. In March 2021, Apple discontinued its original HomePod device, after which many wondered if the company was working on a successor. The HomePod mini, a smaller version of the original HomePod that launched in 2020, is much more popular thanks to its lower price, so it wouldn't be surprising if Apple launches another version of the HomePod mini with new features in the future, as Gurman believes.
