Apple Inc. today expanded its product lineup with a smart display, a new iteration of its HomePod speaker and an upgraded set-top box.
The company also introduced a collection of partner-developed smart home gadgets. Users can manage the devices via the Apple Home app that ships with the iPhone maker’s handsets.
Apple’s first smart display
The HomePod is a seven-inch display that automatically adjusts its brightness based on the time of day. When the user moves away from the device, it changes how graphics are rendered to improve viewability. A facial recognition feature enables HomeView to personalize the content that it displays based on up to six different users’ preferences.
The device will ship in two editions. The first is a wall-mounted model that comes with three mounts. It’s joined by a tabletop edition that sits on an aluminum base. A stainless steel hinge in the base allows HomeView to tilt, which enables users to manually adjust the viewing angle.
There are also other differences between the wall-mounted and tabletop models. The former edition includes two speakers, while the latter features three. Additionally, the tabletop HomeView includes two so-called force-cancelling passive radiators. They prevent the speakers from rattling the device’s chassis, which boosts audio quality.
New automation features
The second addition to Apple’s smart home portfolio is HomePod mini 2, the latest iteration of its entry-level smart speaker. It features a panel that displays light effects synced to the music being played. The device optimizes sound quality by automatically tailoring its acoustic settings to each track.
HomePod mini 2 runs its audio processing software on an Apple S10 chip, which made its original debut in the 2024 Apple Watch lineup. The processor also runs Apple’s Siri artificial intelligence assistant. Users can instruct the assistant to perform tasks in apps installed on an iPhone or iPad, as well as change the configuration of other smart home devices.
AI-powered home theater
The HomePod mini 2 is interoperable with the latest iteration of Apple TV 4K, which also made its debut today. The latter device is a set-top box that can be attached to a TV via a cable. It enables the connected display to access streaming services, run Siri and control other smart home devices.
Users can combine an Apple TV 4K with four HomePod mini 2 speakers to create a home theater setup. According to Apple, the speakers detect their position and calibrate their audio settings accordingly to optimize sound quality.
Apple TV 4K uses a custom A19 system-on-chip to manage the connected display and speakers. The chip’s built-in central processing unit provides up to 50% more performance than the one in the company’s previous set-top box. The integrated graphics processing unit, in turn, is up to twice as fast. Apple says that those improvements facilitate smoother interface navigation.
Streaming services deliver video content to users’ displays in a compressed format that saves bandwidth. The stream must be decompressed before it can be played. According to Apple, the A19 performs the task using a dedicated hardware module. The company says that the module lowers the Apple TV K4’s bandwidth consumption.
Apple will ship the box with an upgraded remote. The biggest addition is support for the company’s Find My service, which helps users locate lost devices by visualizing their position on a map. For added measure, the remote plays a sound that makes it easier to locate.
More third-party hardware
The Apple Home Collection is a new lineup of smart home devices developed by LG Corp. and Schneider Electric SE. There are four cameras, including one that doubles as a doorbell, plus a door lock and two thermostats. Users can optionally extend the thermostats with standalone temperature and humanity sensors that also debuted today.
All the devices connect to the Apple Home smart home management app, which enables users to remotely adjust their settings. There are also iPhone and Apple Watch integrations. LG’s smart door lock, for example, can automatically unlock if the user walks up to the door with an iPhone that stores a digital key.