Apple released the fourth developer beta of iOS 26 earlier this week and there has been found in the beta’s code a reference to a HomePod with a display, possibly hinting at the release of a new HomePod sometime in the near future.
A location-related setting in the code has the following wording:
Your HomePod won’t be able to show you the local weather, time, or respond to Siri requests about your area.
It’s the word “show” in the code that piques the interest of observers, as current HomePod models don’t have a screen to display such information.
While we’ve certainly seen several rumors about HomePods with displays over the last few years, the HomePid referenced in the code may be the home hub that Apple reportedly has in development.
We’ve been seeing rumors about a new HomePod with a display since 2021. Several versions are said to be in development, with Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman indicating several variants with screens were under development, including one with a screen mounted on a robotic arm, as well as one with an iPad-like display. Gurman indicated these devices would debut sometime before 2025.
The new HomePod is expected to emphasize smart home features more than current models do.
In March, Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo repeated his prediction that Apple will begin mass production of its new HomePod with a screen in the third quarter of 2025.