Apple HomePod smart speaker's much-awaited revival is reportedly arriving this year, the analyst Ming-Chi Kuo disclosed in his latest Twitter post.
The Apple analyst and leaker, Kuo, gave fans of the renowned tech giant an explicit timeline for the comeback of its minimalist-looking smart speaker, aptly named the HomePod.
Apple HomePod Smart Speaker
As per a news story by Notebook Check, the HomePod mini smart speaker series got its last refresh in Oct. 2021, which brings in new colorful options.
However, the smart speaker of Apple has yet to get an official new generation since it first saw the light of day way back in 2018, which is already four years from now.
Instead, the iPhone maker discontinued the larger HomePod variant last year without seeing its successor.
Despite that, what is so interesting to point out here is that HomePod speakers are still priced roughly near what they originally cost when they debuted a couple of years ago.
Apple HomePod Smart Speaker Revival?
The Apple leaker Kuo, who consistently offers various insights regarding the products and services of the Cupertino tech giant, claims that we are seeing a new HomePod this year.
The analyst predicts that the iPhone maker is already working on releasing the next-generation HomePod before 2022 reaches its final curtain call.
However, Kuo further shared that the new Apple smart speakers could also likely debut sometime in the first quarter of 2023. But the earliest is possibly in the last quarter of this year.
Notebook Check went on to suggest in its report that the next HomePod is likely launching sometime in October, which could also be the same event wherein Apple is introducing the rumored Studio Display Pro.
But as things do not appear official just yet, it could also go the other way, wherein the new HomePod is coming out in March 2023, Kuo offers.
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Apple's New HomePod Smart Speaker: What to Expect
On top of the Apple HomePod revival timeline, the analyst also shared what its fans should expect once its debuts.
According to a recent report by Mac Rumors, the Apple analyst also predicts the upcoming HomePod to be less of an exciting release.
Kuo claimed that the Apple smart speaker is not expected to see many drastic upgrades. Instead, he tweeted that "there may not be much innovation in hardware design."
MacRumors also pointed out another prediction from the Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman, saying that Apple is looking to release a new HomePod variant between its mini and standard offerings.
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Written by Teejay Boris