Tag: mini
How to Use the Temperature and Humidity Sensors on HomePod and HomePod Mini
In January 2023, Apple announced a second-generation full-size HomePod featuring temperature and humidity sensors that can be used to measure the indoor climate, but it also released a software update that brought the same functionality to existing HomePod mini models.
Apple’s HomePod mini was known to have unused temperature and humidity sensors, but now Apple has updated the software, these sensors are available features on the smaller smart speaker, too. Sadly, these sensors are not included in the first-generation HomePod.
To get a readout from the sensors, make sure you have updated your iPhone or iPad to 16.3 or later, which should allow you to update the HomePod software to 16.3, then follow these steps.
- Open the Home app on your iPhone or iPad.
- Select your home, and then the room in which the HomePod is located. Alternatively, tap the Climate button at the top of the main screen for your home.
- Look for the Temperature and Humidity readings at the top of the screen. If you have multiple temperature sensors in the room, it will display an average of them. (If you’ve just updated your HomePod, the sensors may need a few minutes to calibrate.)
- Tap the readout, then tap the sensor button again to access more options.
- In the menu card that appears, you can change the name of the sensor, change which room it is linked to, check its status, and add an automation.
That’s all there is to it. Note that you can also tap the Climate button in the main Home app screen to get a readout Be sure to check out the automation options, which can be handy for activating other devices in the room based on a rise or drop in temperature/humidity.
This article, “How to Use the Temperature and Humidity Sensors on HomePod and HomePod Mini” first appeared on MacRumors.com
Discuss this article in our forums
Hands-On With the New M2 Pro Mac Mini
Base model Mac mini machines come with either an M2 or M2 Pro chip, and like the now-discontinued Intel model, the M2 Pro has four Thunderbolt 4 ports while the M2 version has just two. Other than that distinction, the two Mac mini models are identical externally, offering two USB-A ports, an Ethernet port, an HDMI 2.1 port, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Because Apple transitioned from an older Intel chip to an Apple silicon chip with the high-end M2 Pro Mac mini, there is no direct comparison that we can make. Other M-series chips already outperformed the prior-generation Intel Mac mini, but to give some perspective, we thought we’d share some benchmarks comparing the M2 Pro Mac mini to the M1 Max MacBook Pro.
The M1 Max MacBook Pro features a 10-core CPU and 32-core GPU, and the higher-end base Mac mini with M2 Pro chip features a 10-core CPU and 16-core GPU.
Here are our test results:
Speedometer(Web Responsiveness)
- M2 Pro Mac Mini – 383
- M1 Max MacBook – 319
Cinebench
M2 Pro Mac Mini:
- Multi-core – 11696
- Single-core – 1642
M1 Max MacBook Pro:
- Multi-core – 12240
- Single-core – 1528
Geekbench
M2 Pro Mac mini:
- Single-core – 1886
- Multi-core 11862
- OpenCL – 38712
- Metal – 45831
M1 Max MacBook Pro:
- Single-core – 1787
- Multi-core – 12721
- OpenCL – 55866
- Metal – 67403
Obviously the M1 Max is outperforming the M2 Pro when it comes to the GPU because it has twice the GPU cores, but the performance isn’t doubled. The M2 Pro Mac mini is closer in performance to the M1 Max than you might expect.
The M2 Pro Mac mini is priced starting at $1299, a solid price for the performance that it’s providing. If you’re looking for a desktop machine that’s affordable but still able to be used for video editing, 3D rendering, and similar tasks, it’s worth looking into. Make sure to watch our video up above to see our full suite of benchmarks, and we’ll have an M2 Max MacBook Pro video coming tomorrow.
This article, “Hands-On With the New M2 Pro Mac Mini” first appeared on MacRumors.com
Discuss this article in our forums
New 256GB Mac Mini and 512GB MacBook Pro Have Slower SSD Speeds Than Previous Models
A teardown of the new Mac mini shared by YouTube channel Brandon Geekabit reveals that the 256GB model is equipped with only a single 256GB storage chip, while the same configuration with the M1 chip has two 128GB chips. This difference explains why the new model has a slower SSD, as multiple NAND chips allow for faster speeds.
We have confirmed with the Blackmagic Disk Speed Test benchmarking app that SSD read and write speeds for the new 256GB Mac mini are each around 1,500 MB/s, which is anywhere from 30% to 50% slower than read and write speeds for the equivalent previous-generation model, although benchmark results and real-world performance can vary.
Customers who are looking for the fastest SSD speeds should ensure they configure their M2 Mac mini with at least 512GB of storage to avoid this issue. A slower SSD can impact file transfer speeds, and overall performance can also take a slight hit since Macs temporarily use SSD space as virtual memory when physical RAM is fully used.
As for the higher-end Mac mini with the M2 Pro chip, the base model with 512GB of storage appears to have two fewer NAND chips than the Intel-based model it replaced, according to a teardown shared by MacStadium’s Brian Stucki.
13-inch MacBook Pro and MacBook Air models with the M2 chip and 256GB of storage also have slower SSD speeds due to a single NAND chip, and evidently Apple has not decided to change course with the new Mac mini.
In a statement shared with The Verge last year, Apple claimed that M2-based Macs have “even faster” performance for real-world activities, but it’s unclear if the statement was referring to SSD performance or overall system performance:
Thanks to the performance increases of M2, the new MacBook Air and the 13-inch MacBook Pro are incredibly fast, even compared to Mac laptops with the powerful M1 chip. These new systems use a new higher density NAND that delivers 256GB storage using a single chip. While benchmarks of the 256GB SSD may show a difference compared to the previous generation, the performance of these M2 based systems for real world activities are even faster.
We have reached out to an Apple spokesperson for additional comment on the matter and will update this story if we hear back.
Update: As noted by 9to5Mac, the new MacBook Pro also has slower SSD speeds when configured with 512GB of storage due to a reduction in NAND chips.
This article, “New 256GB Mac Mini and 512GB MacBook Pro Have Slower SSD Speeds Than Previous Models” first appeared on MacRumors.com
Discuss this article in our forums
The Balolo Tripod Stand takes Apple’s HomePod Mini to the next level. Literally
HomePod Mini vs. HomePod Buyer’s Guide
Apple recently reintroduced the full-size HomePod, meaning that there are once again two HomePods to choose from. At three times the price of HomePod mini, should you buy the full-size HomePod, or choose its junior sibling? Our guide outlines the differences between the two HomePods and helps to answer the question of how to decide which may be best for you.
Similarities
- Design with acoustically transparent mesh fabric and backlit touch surface that illuminates from edge to edge
- Siri and voice recognition
- U1 ultra wideband chip and audio handoff
- Temperature and humidity sensor
- Multiroom audio
- Stereo pair capable
- Smart home hub
- Thread support
- Intercom, Find My, Siri Shortcuts, Ambient sounds, Music alarms, Sound Recognition, Home Theater with Apple TV 4K, and Lossless audio
Differences
HomePod mini
- Compact, spherical design
- 3.3 inches tall
- S5 chip from 2019’s Apple Watch Series 5
- Full‑range driver
- Dual force-cancelling passive radiators
- Three-microphone array
- Available in White, Space Gray, Orange, Yellow, and Blue
- $99
HomePod
- Large, capsule design
- 6.6 inches tall
- S7 chip from 2021’s Apple Watch Series 7
- High-excursion woofer
- Five horn-loaded beamforming tweeter array
- Four far-field beamforming microphones
- Room-sensing
- Support for Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos
- Available in White and Midnight
- $299
Design
At just 3.3-inches tall, the HomePod mini is much smaller than the full-size HomePod, which is just under seven inches tall. The HomePod mini also has a compact spherical design, while the original HomePod has a bulkier, capsule-like design. The HomePod is larger than the HomePod mini to accommodate additional audio hardware for a fuller sound.
Both devices are covered in Apple’s audio-conductive mesh material and have a backlit touch surface that illuminates from edge to edge. The HomePod and HomePod mini share the Siri waveform that appears on the top display to indicate when Siri is engaged, and integrated touch controls for volume. Both HomePods are also dependent on a wired power cable, meaning that neither is portable.
The HomePod mini’s compact spherical design is more discreet than its larger sibling, and will be the preferred device for tables and surfaces where you have limited space or don’t want it to stand out. Likewise, the larger HomePod will be more appropriate on TV units and areas with more space.
The larger HomePod is only available in White and Midnight, while the HomePod mini is available in White, Space Gray, Orange, Yellow, and Blue – which might be an important consideration when buying to go with your interior decor.
Audio Hardware
Audio hardware is the most important area of difference between the two HomePods. HomePod mini offers a single full-range driver, powered by a neodymium magnet and a pair of force-canceling passive radiators, which enables deep bass and crisp high frequencies.
On the other hand, HomePod features a large, Apple-designed woofer for deep, clean bass, and a custom array of five beam-forming tweeters that provide pure high-frequency acoustics, each with its own amplifier and with directional control.
Both devices use an Apple-designed acoustic waveguide to direct the flow of sound down and out toward the bottom of the speaker for an immersive 360-degree audio experience. This allows users to place HomePod almost anywhere in a room and hear consistent sound.
The HomePod’s larger size allows it to achieve a wider, deeper, and more spacious soundstage. It delivers richer, fuller, and louder sound compared to the HomePod mini. The HomePod mini still delivers clean, functional, and surprisingly good sound, but there is no doubt that the added size and audio components in the larger HomePod overshadows it significantly.
Microphones
HomePod mini uses a three-microphone array to listen for “Hey Siri,” and a fourth inward-facing microphone helps isolate sound coming from the speaker to improve voice detection when music is playing. The larger HomePod uses an array of four microphones for the same reason.
These microphones help to cancel echo and enable Siri to understand people whether they are near the device or standing across the room, even while loud music is playing. It is unclear if the added microphones on the HomePod are to counteract its louder, larger sound profile, while the HomePod mini simply doesn’t need a four-microphone array due to its smaller size, or if it is a point of material difference between the two models when it comes to sound isolation.
Processor and Software
The HomePod uses the S7 chip from the Apple Watch Series 7, while the HomePod mini uses the S5 chip from the Apple Watch Series 5 and Apple Watch SE. The HomePod’s processor allows it to use advanced software for real-time acoustic modeling, audio beam-forming, and echo cancelation.
HomePod mini uses its processor to maximize the performance of its less capable audio hardware. In an attempt to achieve big sound out of a compact design, the Apple S5 chip in HomePod mini works with advanced software to analyze the unique characteristics of the music and apply complex tuning models to optimize loudness, adjust the dynamic range, and control the movement of the driver and passive radiators in real-time.
The S7 chip in the larger HomePod likewise performs some unique functions, such as bass management through real-time software modeling that ensures the speaker delivers the deepest and cleanest bass possible, with low distortion.
Ultimately, the HomePod’s processor is not a very important consideration when it comes to choosing between the two models. The S5 is an older chip, but the S7 is only marginally more powerful. The S7 is functionally the same as the S6 chip, meaning that it is only one generation newer than the S5 chip in practice. Both S-series chips run the same operating system and deliver computational audio with a comparable level of performance.
Many of the HomePod’s operations are not processed locally, so a newer chip does not necessarily guarantee better real-world performance. Nevertheless, for locally processed tasks, the full-size HomePod is likely to perform marginally better, but not to the extent that it is worth choosing one over the other.
Spatial Awareness
The larger HomePod uses spatial awareness to sense its location in the room. This allows it to automatically adjust and optimize the audio based on its location in the room for improved sound quality. The HomePod can detect walls and corners, and uses this information with its directional tweeters to deliver sound evenly across the room, while reducing distortion and echo. Only the original HomePod has spatial awareness, and the HomePod mini does not have this feature.
Stereo Sound
Adding a second HomePod to your setup enables stereo sound to create a wider soundstage for richer, more enveloping sound. Each HomePod is able to play its own channel of either left or right sound, while separating out both the ambient and direct energy. Both devices can perform automatic detection and balance of two speakers using both direct and reflected audio. Even though the two speakers act as one, each HomePod communicates with each other to ensure that only one speaker responds to Siri requests.
While both HomePod and HomePod mini support this stereo pair capability, you cannot pair a HomePod mini and a full-size HomePod together. Instead, you can only pair two HomePods or two HomePod minis as stereo speakers. Both HomePods support multiroom audio and can be mixed together using that functionality, but not to achieve stereo sound.
The soundstage of the HomePod is much more impressive in stereo owing to its larger size, so while the HomePod mini is competent for stereo audio, the experience is undoubtedly much better with the full-size model.
Spatial Audio
Only the full-size HomePod supports Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos, a feature that was added via the iOS 15.1 software update in 2021. If you plan to listen to a lot of Dolby Atmos audio, such as via Apple Music or in a home theatre setup, the full-size HomePod is your only option.
Final Thoughts
Overall, it is clear that the HomePod and HomePod mini are products that have different purposes. The HomePod is a more full-featured, high-end speaker focused on outstanding sound quality, while the HomePod mini is intended to be more accessible and versatile.
This is reflected in the HomePod mini’s more affordable price. The HomePod mini may be better suited to areas such as hallways or kitchens, while the original HomePod seems to be better suited to larger rooms where audio content is consumed more regularly, such as living rooms.
The main reason to buy the larger HomePod is its better audio fidelity. If you want to use your HomePods to enjoy Spatial Audio, the larger HomePod is the only option, but the stereo experience and home theatre is also much better than with the HomePod mini. With its directional audio and spatial awareness, on top of its added audio hardware, the full-size HomePod is the device for when immersive sound is important and worth an additional $200.
In locations where the device may be used for Siri commands or podcasts more than music or TV audio, HomePod mini seems to be the better option. The HomePod mini is better when something more discreet is needed or in areas where it is used in passing. The HomePod mini still performs well in multiroom audio mode and its more affordable price tag allows users to acquire more of them for use around the home.
This article, “HomePod Mini vs. HomePod Buyer’s Guide” first appeared on MacRumors.com
Discuss this article in our forums
Review: The M2 Mac mini is the perfect desktop for most users
Nothing is the same with Apple Silicon. While the leap from M1 to M2 chips doesn’t deliver quite as big a performance improvement as the jump from previous Mac chips to Apple Silicon did, it still adds enough juice to ensure that even the entry-level M2 Mac mini does what most people need.
The Geekbench tests
Here are some Geekbench performance figures for entry-level Mac mini configurations dating back to 2011. The M2 system data was generated by a test machine made available by Apple:
Mac Mini vs. Mac Studio Buyer’s Guide
The Mac Studio starts at $1,999, dwarfing the $599 starting price of the M2 Mac mini and even the $1,299 starting price of the M2 Pro Mac mini, so do you need the highest-end Apple silicon Mac, or is the humble Mac mini sufficient for your needs? Our guide helps to answer the question of how to decide which of these two desktop Macs is best for you.
Comparing the Mac Mini and the Mac Studio
The Mac mini and the Mac Studio share some fundamental features, including a familiar, boxy silver aluminum design, Apple silicon chipsets, and two USB-A ports. That being said, the two machines have much more in contrast than they do in common, including different chip options, memory capacities, ports, and external display support capabilities.
Key Differences
Mac mini
- Height of 1.41 inches (3.58 cm)
- M2 chip or M2 Pro chip
- Up to 12-core CPU
- Up to 19-core GPU
- Media engine with video decode engine, video encode engines, and ProRes encode and decode engine
- Up to 200GB/s memory bandwidth
- Up to 32GB unified memory
- Support for up to two displays (M2) or three displays (M2 Pro)
- HDMI 2.1 port
- Up to four Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports
- Gigabit Ethernet or 10Gb Ethernet port
- Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax)
- Bluetooth 5.3
- Starts at $699 for M2 model or $1,299 for M2 Pro model
Mac Studio
- Height of 3.7 inches (9.5 cm)
- M1 Max chip or M1 Ultra chip
- Up to 20-core CPU
- Up to 64-core GPU
- Media engine with two video decode engines, up to four video encode engines, and up to four ProRes encode and decode engines
- Up to 800GB/s memory bandwidth
- Up to 128GB unified memory
- Support for up to four Pro Display XDRs and one 4K display
- HDMI 2.0 port
- Six Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports
- SDXC card slot (UHS-II)
- 10Gb Ethernet port
- Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)
- Bluetooth 5.0
- Starts at $1,999 for M1 Max model or $3,999 for M1 Ultra model
Desktop Apple Silicon Chips Compared
In single-core tasks, the M2 and M2 Pro Mac mini models perform distinctly better than either of the Mac Studio configurations. In multi-core, the picture is less clear-cut. The M2 Mac mini is less powerful than either of the Mac Studio models, but the M2 Pro Mac mini is more powerful than the M1 Max Mac Studio. The M1 Ultra Mac Studio remains the most powerful in multi-core tasks. In GPU tasks, the chips scale as one would expect, with progressively better performance through the M2, M2 Pro, M1 Max, and M1 Ultra. As such, users who need maximum GPU power should still buy the Mac Studio over the Mac mini.
See the approximate Geekbench 5 scores for each Mac mini and Mac Studio below, including the scores for the now-discontinued M1 Mac mini for reference:
Single-Core Scores
- M1: ~1,700
- M2: ~2,000
- M2 Pro: ~2,000
- M1 Max: ~1,750
- M1 Ultra: ~1,750
Metal GPU Scores
- M1: ~22,500
- M2: ~30,500
- M2 Pro: ~52,700
- M1 Max: ~64,700
- M1 Ultra: ~94,500
Multi-Core Scores
- M1: ~7,500
- M2: ~9,000
- M2 Pro: ~15,000
- M1 Max: ~12,350
- M1 Ultra: ~23,350
Unless you plan on buying the M1 Ultra Mac Studio with a focus on multi-core and GPU performance, the M2 Pro Mac mini should be the best all-round choice in terms of performance for most users.
Memory
If you need more than 32GB of memory, the Mac Studio can provide greater quantities up to 128GB. Likewise, the Mac mini’s memory bandwidth maxes out at 200GB/s memory bandwidth. The Mac Studio, on the other hand, offers up to 400GB/s or 800GB/s memory bandwidth. As such, if you need extreme quantities of memory and a large amount of memory bandwidth for professional tasks, only the Mac Studio can meet these requirements. It is still worth noting that the M2 Pro Mac mini’s 32GB memory option, along with 200GB/s memory bandwidth, should be more than enough for most users.
Ports and External Display Support
The Mac Studio offers a more versatile selection of ports, with two extra Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports and a SDXC card slot compared to the M2 Pro Mac mini, which could be an important consideration for users with a lot of peripherals.
The Mac mini has an HDMI 2.1 port, meaning that it will be better for a small number of users who work with 8K and high refresh-rate external displays, but otherwise the Mac Studio offers better external display support.
Final Thoughts
To some extent, purchasing decisions should be driven by budget, but it is worth bearing in mind that any savings on the desktop computer itself can be put toward a good external display such as Apple’s Studio Display, which starts from $1,599. For example, an M2 Pro Mac mini paired with a Studio Display comes to $2,898, which is just $899 more than a lone base model Mac Studio and $1,101 less than the M1 Ultra Mac Studio with no display.
Buy Mac Mini if…
- You need a high-level of performance and versatility at a comparatively low price
- You need maximum single-core CPU performance
- You need maximum multi-core CPU performance and cannot afford the M1 Ultra Mac Studio
- You need HDMI 2.1 and support for 8K external displays
- You need Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) or Bluetooth 5.3
Buy Mac Studio if…
- You need maximum multi-core CPU performance and can afford the M1 Ultra model
- You need maximum GPU performance
- You need amounts of memory over 32GB and high memory bandwidth
- You need more than four Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports
- You need support for more than three external displays
- You need a built-in SDXC card slot (UHS-II)
You should only consider the Mac Studio if you have a professional workflow that can leverage the extreme power of M1 Ultra, as well as its additional ports and memory options. If you need the Mac Studio, you will likely know that you are looking for a highly powerful machine that is capable of supporting specific intense workflows. Most customers should choose the M2 Pro Mac mini over the M1 Max Mac Studio, saving $700 when looking at the base models. There will likely still be substantial savings when it comes to custom configurations.
This article, “Mac Mini vs. Mac Studio Buyer’s Guide” first appeared on MacRumors.com
Discuss this article in our forums
Top Stories: New MacBook Pro, Mac Mini, HomePod, and More
We’ll have a lot more to come over the next few weeks as the new products launch, but read on below for all of the announcement details!
Apple Announces New MacBook Pro, Mac Mini, HomePod, and More
Apple made some rare January product announcements this week, introducing updated 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models, an updated Mac mini, a new full-size HomePod, and more.
We’ve put together a recap of everything that Apple announced this week for those looking for a quick overview of all the new products introduced this week. We’ve also rounded up all of our coverage of the announcements below with more details about each new product.
Apple Announces New MacBook Pros With M2 Pro/M2 Max Chips, Up to 96GB RAM, and More
The new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models are available with Apple’s latest M2 Pro and M2 Max chips for up to 20% faster performance and up to 30% faster graphics. The laptops can now be configured with up to 96GB of RAM and feature Wi-Fi 6E, an upgraded HDMI 2.1 port with support for an 8K external display, and an extra hour of battery life.
The laptops can be pre-ordered now on Apple’s online store, with the first deliveries to customers and in-store availability to begin January 24.
Apple Announces New Mac Mini With M2 and M2 Pro Chips at Lower $599 Starting Price
Apple also updated the Mac mini with new M2 and M2 Pro chip options, resulting in the final Intel-based Mac mini being discontinued. There are no design changes, but M2 Pro configurations are equipped with four Thunderbolt 4 ports and an HDMI 2.1 port.
The new Mac mini can be pre-ordered now on Apple’s online store, with the M2 base model starting at a lower $599 price. Availability begins January 24.
Apple Announces New HomePod for $299 With Full-Size Design, S7 Chip, and More
The second-generation HomePod features a virtually identical design as the full-size HomePod that was discontinued in 2021. The Siri-enabled smart speaker has two fewer tweeters and microphones than the original model, an S7 chip for computational audio, a U1 chip for handing off music from an iPhone, and support for Spatial Audio. The speaker also supports Matter for controlling smart home accessories.
The new HomePod is available to pre-order now for $299 in white and midnight colors and launches on February 3.
iOS 16.3 Coming Next Week: Here’s What’s New
In its press release about a new Unity watch band for the Apple Watch, Apple said a matching Unity wallpaper for the iPhone will be available next week on iOS 16.3, which confirms that the software update will be released to the public next week — here’s what’s new.
The only major new features coming in iOS 16.3 are support for physical security keys as a two-factor authentication option for Apple ID accounts and a worldwide expansion of optional Advanced Data Protection for iCloud accounts.
Apple Launches Black Unity Sport Loop With Matching Apple Watch Face and iPhone Wallpaper
Apple this week released a special-edition Black Unity Sport Loop for the Apple Watch in celebration of Black History Month. Available now for $49, the band features the word “Unity” woven into the fabric with red, green, and black yarns that pay homage to the Pan-African flag, according to Apple.
Apple is also releasing a companion Unity-themed iPhone wallpaper and watch face with iOS 16.3 and watchOS 9.3.
MacRumors Newsletter
Each week, we publish an email newsletter like this highlighting the top Apple stories, making it a great way to get a bite-sized recap of the week hitting all of the major topics we’ve covered and tying together related stories for a big-picture view.
So if you want to have top stories like the above recap delivered to your email inbox each week, subscribe to our newsletter!
This article, “Top Stories: New MacBook Pro, Mac Mini, HomePod, and More” first appeared on MacRumors.com
Discuss this article in our forums
Apple may have scrapped plans for a new HomePod mini
With this week’s return of the HomePod, you might think it would make sense for Apple to start working on a new HomePod mini. After all, the company hasn’t announced a hardware refresh for the device since its introduction in 2020, and the smart speaker market is one of the most competitive in tech. However, it appears no such update is in the works.
In his latest Power On newsletter, Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman says he believes the company is not “actively working” on a new HomePod mini. Pointing to the second-generation HomePod, he notes it “doesn’t include any major new functions that aren’t already in the $99 mini, so there isn’t an obvious reason to update the model.” Gurman suggests Apple is more likely to improve the mini by releasing software updates that address shortcomings involving Siri and app integration because that’s where “real improvements probably need to be made.”
To that point, Apple recently updated the HomePod mini’s software to activate a temperature and humidity sensor that had been lying dormant in the device since release. As Gurman points out, the newly reintroduced HomePod adds features previously exclusive to the HomePod mini, including ultra-wideband support and Thread connectivity.
While a new HomePod mini could be years away, Apple likely has other smart home products on the horizon. In August, Gurman reported the company was working on a smart display, as well as a device that combines the functionality of an Apple TV, camera and HomePod into a single offering. At the time, he said those could arrive by early 2024.