The next HomePod could look more like a soundbar, according to this Apple patent – and it hints at solving the HomePod 2’s biggest problem
The next Apple HomePod could have a much longer and thinner horizontal design than previous models, making it look more like a soundbar, according to an Apple patent spotted by AppleInsider.
The patent describes the design of what appears to be a horizontal HomePod with speakers and a central display that reminds us of the design of the JBL Charge 5 speaker or a larger soundbar, such as the Sonos Ray. Either way, it’s a huge departure from the cylindrical design of the first HomePod or the cute spherical aesthetic of the HomePod Mini.
It makes sense that Apple would want to shake up the HomePod, since the design hasn’t changed much in years. This latest patent is an interesting development, however, as we’ve seen several leaks indicating that a HomePod with improved display is on the way. This would be larger than the previous Apple HomePod 2 model and would replace the swirling waveform sphere at the top with a large screen.
This certainly does not seem to be the case. In fact, this might fit better with the rumored HomePod and Apple TV combo device.
Mystery ports and Siri upgrades
The patent is simply called “Audio Speaker System” and doesn’t give much away other than six drawings with basic text explaining that the images show it from different angles. One interesting thing that can be easy to miss, however, is that the rear view drawing of this new version of the HomePod appears to have an array of ports, which would be a first for an Apple HomePod.
The biggest problem with Apple’s HomePod 2 right now is that there’s no way to get sound from it from any source other than Apple’s AirPlay (which streams from your Apple devices) or Siri. So if the next version of the Apple HomePod comes with standard connection ports, that will be a huge bonus, giving people much more choice and flexibility over the way they listen to music. Alternatively, it could be a sign that this design would indeed be an Apple TV too – instead of audio-focused ports, it could be HDMI and Ethernet ports.
If they’re for audio, the potential of not needing Apple’s AirPlay or Siri is also a good idea, as Siri isn’t that great – or at least not compared to its rivals. In a recent news story about the rumored HomePod with screen, we wrote: “an Apple HomePod with the current version of Siri at its core can’t compete with the best smart speakers in the industry in 2024.” Perhaps Apple plans to shift the focus from Siri’s capabilities and more to a great home speaker system? That might be the best bet, at least until Siri can compete with other smart assistants, because right now it’s lagging behind.
But Apple may already be working behind the scenes to address these issues. After all, we say Siri is lagging behind – and Apple has known that for over a year. That would certainly make sense given the recent news that Apple researchers have unveiled an AI breakthrough that could make Siri much smarter.
In the new article, Apple researchers say that the AI assistant will soon understand the context of your requests better than ever, because it will consider what you ask And what is currently on your screen, such as what music you are playing, for example. Knowing these details may seem small, but they can go a long way in making better recommendations.