Why Apple Needs to Launch a Touch-Enabled HomePod—and Why Now Is the Perfect Time

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It’s 2025, and the smart speaker/display market is ripe for disruption. With Google’s Nest Hub lineup sitting idle for years and Amazon Alexa’s devices chasing value over quality, there’s a notable void in the premium segment. Apple, known for its hardware-first philosophy, is in a rare position to not only fill this gap but redefine what a smart display can be—if it plays its cards right. A new HomePod with a touch-enabled display could be the move that cements Apple’s dominance in the connected home space.

The Market Vacuum: Google’s Silence and Amazon’s Budget Strategy

Google’s Nest Hub series once set the benchmark for smart displays, particularly in terms of seamless Google Assistant integration, smart home controls, and photo display features. However, the last meaningful hardware update was in 2021, and since then, innovation in the category has ground to a halt. No major updates. No new form factors. For a company with Google’s software prowess, the hardware complacency is baffling.

Amazon, on the other hand, continues to churn out Echo Show devices, with ever-larger screens and clever marketing around features like Alexa widgets and home security integration. But despite their popularity, these devices lean heavily on affordability, not premium design or superior audio. The Echo Show 15, for example, is practical but uninspired, and while functional, it lacks the polish and finesse that Apple’s ecosystem demands.

A Premium Smart Display Is Apple’s Opportunity

Apple’s HomePod has always focused on audio excellence. Even the discontinued original HomePod, though criticized for its price, was widely praised for sound quality. The HomePod mini is a solid entry-level smart speaker, but Apple’s reluctance to explore other form factors—particularly a display-enabled model—has been surprising.

Now is the time to act.

A HomePod with a touch-enabled display would give Apple the perfect platform to:

  1. Showcase the new Siri – Rumors are swirling around Apple’s AI ambitions, particularly with next-gen Siri powered by Apple Intelligence. A smart display would be the best way to demonstrate this evolution—not through text on a phone, but through an ambient, conversational interface that lives in the home.
  2. Leverage its ecosystem – Imagine a HomePod display with tight integration with iCloud Photos, HomeKit, Apple Music, Apple TV+, FaceTime, Calendar, and even Apple Fitness+. No one else can replicate this end-to-end experience.
  3. Control the smart home – As Matter and Thread continue to evolve, a HomePod display could become the centerpiece for smart home control, offering both voice and tactile interactions with appliances, cameras, lighting, and more.

Why Not a Soundbar Too?

It’s still baffling that Apple doesn’t make a soundbar—a device that seems like a natural extension of its HomePod audio technology. With Apple TV 4K as a hub, a HomePod soundbar would complement the entertainment setup while extending Siri into the living room in a more robust way. Competitors like Sonos and Bose have dominated this niche, but none offer native integration with Apple’s ecosystem. There’s space for a high-end, beautifully designed Apple soundbar—especially one that can act as a Home Hub with Siri and smart display features.

Is Now the Right Time?

Arguments for launching now:

  1. Gap in premium options: Google has gone quiet. Amazon is focused on entry-level and mid-tier devices. No one is offering a true premium smart display with great sound, great build quality, and elite software integration.
  2. AI momentum: With Apple Intelligence launching in iOS 18 and macOS Sequoia, consumer interest in smarter assistants is peaking. A Siri 2.0 needs a stage—and a HomePod with a display could be it.
  3. Cross-platform halo effect: A new HomePod could drive engagement across Apple services—from Music to TV+, Fitness+ to HomeKit.

Arguments against launching now:

  1. Market saturation: Even with the vacuum at the top, smart displays as a category have stagnated. Consumers who wanted one likely already have one.
  2. High expectations: If Apple releases such a device, it can’t be half-baked. Any shortcomings in AI or display functionality could lead to harsh criticism.
  3. Pricing pressure: Apple products are never cheap. If the HomePod display is priced too high (e.g., $399+), it may end up in the same trap as the original HomePod—technically brilliant, but commercially niche.

Could It Succeed?

Yes—if priced right and clearly differentiated.

A successful product would need:

  1. At least 10-inch display with OLED or mini-LED tech
  2. Exceptional sound (think spatial audio, Dolby Atmos)
  3. A12 Bionic chip or higher to power Siri, HomeKit, and video calls
  4. Camera with Center Stage for FaceTime
  5. Multi-user voice recognition
  6. $249–$299 price point to stay competitive, possibly $349 for a “Pro” version

Why Apple Might Never Make a Smart TV

Apple has long been rumored to be working on a standalone smart TV, yet one has never materialized. Why?

  1. Low margins – TVs are a commoditized market. Even high-end models from LG and Samsung operate on razor-thin margins. That’s not Apple’s style.
  2. Upgrade cycles are long – Consumers replace phones every few years. TVs? Every 5–7 years, maybe longer. That’s not an ideal refresh cycle for Apple’s revenue model.
  3. Apple TV 4K works – With the Apple TV 4K, Apple has created a modular solution. You can plug it into any TV and get the full Apple experience. Why compete directly with LG, Sony, or Samsung?
  4. Limited ecosystem advantage – Unlike the iPhone or Apple Watch, a TV doesn’t deepen the user’s dependence on the Apple ecosystem in a significant way.

That’s why Apple may continue to expand accessories around the TV—like a HomePod display or soundbar—but not the TV itself.

So, When Could the Next HomePod Arrive?

Based on Apple’s product cadence and rumors, a new HomePod generation—potentially with a display—could drop as early as spring 2026. Why?

  1. Apple typically announces new hardware in March or April.
  2. WWDC 2025 is already packed with AI announcements; a fall 2025 release would be too crowded.
  3. There have been multiple patents and internal leaks (from Ming-Chi Kuo and Mark Gurman) indicating Apple has prototypes of HomePods with screens.
  4. Siri’s AI overhaul will be in public hands by late 2025—perfect timing for a hardware showcase.

Final Thoughts

Apple has a rare opportunity here. The premium smart display market is wide open. A HomePod with a touch-enabled display could bring together Apple’s AI, ecosystem, and design ethos into a single product that others simply can’t match. Whether Apple will take that risk is unknown—but if it does, and gets the pricing and timing right, it could change the landscape for smart home devices once again.

The HomePod didn’t die—it just hasn’t found its full form yet.

And with Siri 2.0 coming to life, that full form might finally be ready.

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