Report: Apple’s First Smart Display Could Launch Next Year and Run “homeOS”

With the upcoming launch of Apple Intelligence on select iPhones, iPads, and Macs next month, Apple is expected to re-enter the smart home market with smart displays with intelligent capabilities. In the latest edition of his Power On newsletter, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports that Apple could launch its first smart display as soon as next year, with the device running a new operating system named “homeOS.”

Gurman previously reported that Apple was working on new smart home products to compete with devices such as the Google Nest Hub or the Amazon Echo Show. One of these products is said to be an iPad-like tablet attached to a robotic arm, which according to Gurman may cost $1,000 or more.” However, this device could preceded by a low-end smart display possibly coming next year.

“The Apple Intelligence tools will be at the heart of both products, helping the company bring AI into the home,” Gurman emphasized. Apple’s current smart home products, which include Apple TV set top boxes and HomePod speakers currently lack the hardware to run Apple Intelligence.

Gurman reported that Apple’s upcoming smart home displays will be running “homeOS,” a new platform based on the existing tvOS powering the Apple TV. “I expect both of the operating systems to ultimately get combined and run on every Apple home device,” Gurman said in his newsletter.

The report also says that Apple’s low-end smart display could let users access apps like Apple Calendar, Notes, and the company’s Home hub for controlling smart home devices. Regarding the hardware, Gurman also said that Apple has created portable prototypes that could be magnetically attached to walls or sit on top of a desk.

Even though smart speakers and smart displays have been around for years, this market could soon be disrupted by the rise of generative AI technology. Amazon, which has been competing aggressively with its Echo products, is working on a paid version of its Alexa assistant with generative AI features. Google also created a smarter “Gemini” chatbot that may eventually replace Google Assistant, but it hasn’t released any new Nest-branded speaker or smart display in years. This may well give Apple an opportunity to reinvent that market with more capable devices with built-in support for Apple Intelligence.