ⓘ Howard Bouchevereau

According to a Bloomberg report, Apple’s first competitor to the Amazon Echo Show 8 ($179 on Amazon) will hit the market between October 2026 and spring 2027. The device is said to feature a nearly square touchscreen with a 7-inch diagonal, as well as built-in speakers, microphones, and a camera.

Engadget has now discovered several references to this alleged HomePad in the code of the latest beta version of macOS 26.7. The device is still listed rather vaguely in the code as "HomeAccessory," along with references to "Faces" and a "Face Gallery." This suggests that the HomePad, much like the Apple Watch, will offer a selection of watch faces and can function as a clock in standby mode. Similar to the Apple Watch, these watch faces are expected to be customizable with a range of complications, for example, to display the temperature or weather, or to control a smart home device directly via a button.

The code suggests that the HomePad detects when the user’s iPhone is nearby. If it isn’t, personal information is supposed to be hidden. Similar to macOS, the HomePad is expected to be able to display iPhone widgets. Finally, Engadget found evidence that Apple will offer two variants – one with a stand and one with a wall mount. According to Bloomberg, the HomePad will also be able to conduct video chats, display live video from security cameras, and function as a smart home hub. Thanks to facial recognition, the device will be usable by multiple users, each of whom will automatically see their personalized version of the user interface.

Editor of the original article: Hannes Brecher - Senior Tech Writer - 22153 articles published on Notebookcheck since 2018

Since 2009 I have written for different publications with a focus on consumer electronics. I joined the Notebookcheck news team in 2018 and have combined my many years of experience with laptops and smartphones with my lifelong passion for technology to create informative content for our readers about new developments in this sphere. In addition, my design background as an art director at an ad agency has allowed me to have deeper insights into the peculiarities of this industry.