Apple just finalized its 2024 device lineup, but it’s never too early to look to the future. And according to a new report, big things are on the way.
As Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports, Apple plans to launch a new “wall-mounted display that can control home appliances, handle video conferencing, and use AI to navigate apps.” The device, which Gurman said could arrive as soon as March, is “a priority” for Tim Cook, who is working to bring it to market after more than three years of development.
Gurman describes the device as a square iPad with a 6-inch screen, “about the size of two iPhones side by side, with a thick bezel around the screen.” It says it has a top-front camera, a built-in rechargeable battery, and internal speakers. It would be available in silver and black. Gurman doesn’t dare guess what the device will be called.
It’s worth noting that the new device won’t run on iPadOS or tvOS. Instead, it features “a touchscreen interface that feels like a mix of the Apple Watch operating system and the iPhone’s recently launched StandBy mode.” It will also be powered by Siri, which should be the preferred method of interaction, like the Echo Show or the Nest Hub. The operating system would be built around Apple’s App Intents, the upcoming Apple Intelligence framework that “provides features to deeply integrate your app actions and content with system experiences across platforms, including Siri, Spotlight, widgets, controls and more.
Additionally, the device will interact with Apple’s existing apps and services, including FaceTime, Safari, Apple Music, News+, Notes, Calendar, and Photos. Apple is also reportedly working on a high-end version with a robotic arm that can rotate 360 degrees and tilt up and down.
Also this week, Ming-Chi Kuo reported that Apple is working on a smart home camera that could come to market in 2026. It’s likely that the iPad described by Gurman will function as a home hub for cameras and other home gadgets smart and will likely be the start of a push into this category. As it stands, the HomePods and Apple TV can function as a home hub, but this new device would be part of a renewed effort to define Apple’s smart home.
