Lyra Martin Tech 08.07.2022 23:Aug PM EDT

Is Apple Working on New Smart Home Devices, Including a Smart Display?

Apple has at least four new smart home devices in development and might significantly boost the number of smart home items it provides over the next two years.

Apple May Add Four New Smart Home Gadgets in the Next Two Years

According to Mark Gurman of Bloomberg, cited in Engadget, Apple may considerably increase the number of smart home products it offers within the next two years. Gurman claims that the corporation has "at least four new smart home gadgets in its laboratories" in his most recent Power On newsletter.

The new HomePod model Gurman initially reported about in June is on that list, along with an updated HomePod small. According to reports, the former will sound and look like the base 2018 model. Apple did not provide a direct successor for the HomePod when it was retired in 2021. The two other gadgets are brand-new offerings from the firm.

One is a kitchen device that Gurman claims combine an iPad and a speaker. The other, meanwhile, allegedly combines the capabilities of an Apple TV, camera, and HomePod into a living room gadget. Although he cautions that "not all will see the light of the day," he claims that Apple might introduce one of those two items by the end of 2019 or the beginning of 2024.

Apple would face more competition from Google and Amazon if it released a kitchen appliance. Due to products like the Nest Hub and Echo Show, 15 two are most closely linked to the smart display category. Since most smart displays don't seem important, it will be interesting to see what Apple feels it can contribute to the industry.

Reports Say Apple's 14- and 16-inch MacBook Models are Being Updated

The 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models are undergoing new modifications by Apple, but a refresh is still some time off, so it is unsure exactly what to expect.

The computers will be equipped with M2 Pro and M2 Max CPUs, resulting in significant performance improvements. This overview will update the information as we discover more about the upcoming 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro models and summarize all we know about them.

The upcoming MacBook Pro upgrades won't include design changes. Apple's unibody design is still metal despite being flatter and less curved at the bottom. Large Force Touch Trackpad, black keyboard, and two speaker grilles on each side.

The tech giant is apparently contemplating integrating M2 Pro and M2 Max CPUs in the updated MacBook Pro variants. The M2 Max processor will include a 12-core CPU, up from the M1 Max's 10-core CPU, and a 38-core GPU, up from 32 cores.

M2 Max supports 64GB of unified memory. Gurman suppressed details on the M2 Pro, although it's expected to be weaker than the M2 Max.

Additionally, it could be developing Face ID for the Mac, which would be excellent for the more expensive MacBook Pro models, but there are no concrete rumors that the MacBook Pro upgrade would include Face ID.

In October 2021, it revealed the 14- and 16-inch M1 Pro and M1 Max MacBook Pros. The Mac improvements for this year, however, are not anticipated. According to Gurman, the 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pros won't receive an update until 2023.