This article may contain affiliate links. Learn more on our Partner Program page.
Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman has already reported that Apple will soon introduce new iPad Pro models via press release. The journalist also revealed Apple's plans to release brand new iPad docking accessories for smart home purposes in 2023.
In his “Power On” newsletter said Gurman that Apple wants to further promote the iPad as an accessory for home use. Last year reported the journalist that the company is working on a new product category that combines the features of Apple TV, iPad and HomePod in a single device. The idea was to create something that could compete with home devices like the Amazon Echo Show. While today's Bloomberg report claims that Apple is still pursuing the idea of combining an iPad with a speaker hub, it also claims that the company now has another card up its sleeve to make it happen.
The new Apple accessories are set to conquer the smart home sector
According to Gurman, Apple has also developed prototypes of an iPad docking accessory that would offer a similar experience but without the need to develop a product that can only be placed in one place in the home. Instead, users could simply connect their iPad to the accessory, creating a home hub experience. It would function similarly to Google's recently unveiled Charging Speaker Dock for the Pixel tablet. Since it can take a very long time to develop new products from scratch, the iPad could be the company's best opportunity "to make a name for itself in the smart home space," the report adds. The journalist has learned from sources that the new accessory could launch "as early as 2023."
A strong home strategy to compete with Amazon
Amazon is known for offering various smart home accessories, including a range of Echo devices with the Alexa virtual assistant built-in. Apple has Apple TV and the HomePod, which aren't exactly a hit. As for the HomePod, the company has discontinued the original model in favor of the more affordable HomePod mini. Gurman writes in his report that Apple is still working on a new HomePod model that is larger than the mini version. A few months ago, an unreleased device was even spotted in the iOS 16 beta code, confirming the rumor. All this combined with the idea of a HomeHub accessory plus HomeKit and the introduction of the Matter standard shows that Apple really wants to have a strong home product strategy to compete with Amazon, Google and other companies. (Photo by tashka2000 / Bigstockphoto)
