Things I learned about the supposed HomePod display from macOS beta code

Apple’s HomePod isn’t exactly a success, and it’s never really caught up to competitors like the Amazon Echo devices. Still, Apple insists on having its own line of smart speakers, and it looks like new HomePods are on the way – at least that’s what Apple’s own code tells us. The company appears to have leaked numerous references to unreleased products in a recent macOS 26.7 beta. This is a massive leak, the likes of which don’t happen very often. And for the small group of HomePod fans, the good news is that major upgrades are coming soon.

The current HomePods are essentially speakers with Siri. Aside from a touch surface for media controls, they don’t really have an interactive display. But here’s the thing: that’s probably about to change. Apple’s beta code clearly refers to a new “HomeAccessory” which is likely a HomePod (or maybe a HomePad?) with a screen. If it seems like you’ve heard of it before, that’s because there’s a good chance that you have. Rumors have been circulating for years about a HomePod with an iPad-sized screen, but it looks like it’s almost ready to launch.

So what exactly does the code leaked this week reveal? Perhaps the most interesting part is the interface – or at least what we can expect from it. Like other HomePods, this new display model will likely run a variant of tvOS. The interface will be quite different, however. The code reveals that its home screen will feature “Faces” and a “Face Gallery”. Think of them like the Apple Watch faces, but bigger. These faces appear to be customizable with different widgets and even Smart Stacks, so you’ll see different widgets throughout the day.

The code also suggests that the new HomePod can detect when the user’s iPhone is nearby to decide whether or not to display personal information in widgets. This is a very good idea to keep sensitive data private. iPhone widgets can also be added to this HomePod. This should work much like placing iPhone app widgets on your Mac using Handoff. Support for Siri AI and App Intents is also expected based on what the code tells us.

Previous rumors suggest that this HomePod with screen will have a more square shape. Although the exact design remains unclear, the leaked code confirms one detail: a wall-mounted version. There are references to “HomeAccessory” and “HomeAccessory_wall” in the beta released yesterday.

There’s another intriguing product that’s been rumored recently: a tabletop robot. According to Bloombergit should feature a screen attached to a robotic arm that can rotate in any direction. Although the product specifications are still quite vague, the product is said to be codenamed J595. References to this codename can be found in HomeKit-related frameworks in this macOS beta, seemingly confirming that the product is indeed in development. Don’t expect to see the tabletop robot anytime soon. It probably won’t be revealed until 2027.

These aren’t the only HomePod-related details revealed by the leaked code. It seems that Apple is also preparing to launch a new generation of HomePod mini, codenamed B525. But you should probably keep your expectations low since this will likely be a minor upgrade with no major changes. At least you can expect a few new colors, depending Woozad.

This beta version of macOS 26.7, which presented itself as an easter egg full of surprises, also refers to the new iPhone, AirPods, iPad and even Mac.