Apple's Smart Home Display to Resemble Iconic iMac G4 Design With Small Square Display

Apple has several new smart home products in development, and with rumors about the initial low-cost smart home control device ramping up over the past few months, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has fleshed out a few new details in the latest edition of his Power On newsletter.

HomePod G4 FeatureMacRumors concept of an iMac G4-like HomePod/smart home device

According to Gurman, the smart home device is planned to launch sometime next year and will feature a hemispherical base with a small screen positioned at an angle on the base, making it resemble the iconic G4 ‌iMac‌ design from two decades ago.

Following up on previous rumors that the device will include a "squarish" display, Gurman indicates the screen and overall device may be smaller than many have expected, with the screen being "about the size of two iPhones side by side."

The small size is reportedly part of Apple's effort to keep pricing down, allowing users to scatter multiple units in different rooms around the house.

the new imac g4 featureThe original ‌iMac‌ G4

As previously described, the smart home device will run a number of iPad-like apps that make sense for its intended purpose, including FaceTime, Notes, and Calendar, as well serving as a hub for smart home controls and being able to display photo and video slideshows. Gurman says it's "possible" that there will be speakers in the device's base, allowing it to serve as a HomePod-like device as well.

Beyond this initial smart home device, Gurman has previously described a more ambitious product with a larger screen mounted on a robotic arm that would be able to identify users and automatically track them as they move around a room. That higher-end product will likely retail for around $1,000 and won't launch until 2026 at the earliest.

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Top Rated Comments

Justin Cymbal Avatar
9 months ago
I still have my iMac G4, that was such an awesome design!

Definitely looking forward to Apple releasing this smart home display

I use my HomePod on a daily basis for both music and podcasts so this will be a nice addition to be able to add to my Apple HomeKit set up
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
citysnaps Avatar
9 months ago

Yes, it will be as successful as Apple Vision pro - while great on paper, lack of real world usage will just kill it with time. lol
It will be priced much less than AVP. And will appeal to people with healthy imaginations. You are correct that people who are cynical with closed minds will probably not be interested and pan it on MR. That's a tradition.
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Mr_Ed Avatar
9 months ago
I’m not sure I see the appeal of something like this. Voice assistant products have been around for a long time now, and Apple’s own attempts at similar functionality with speakers relying on Siri have not exactly been stellar. As for Facetime, who wants to get up and go over to where this device is to do that when they can already be wherever they want and use their iPad or iPhone to do that?
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
tonywalker23 Avatar
9 months ago
The first Mac that I remember seeing in person as an adult. College bookstore. Blew me away. Ended up getting a PowerBook 12”. have an iMac g4 in my living room today. As a middle age man longing for the good ol days, I miss those hardware designs and the aqua interface.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
DHagan4755 Avatar
9 months ago
This supposed product does not interest me at all. Wouldn't you rather have an iPad instead?
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Mr_Ed Avatar
9 months ago

It will be priced much less than AVP. And will appeal to people with healthy imaginations. You are correct that people who are cynical with closed minds will probably not be interested and pan it on MR. That's a tradition.
I chuckle every time I see the critics’ “lack of imagination” thrown around.

Requires imagination to see a use for it = no practical commercial use case

Simple as that.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)