Apple is testing a four-speaker surround configuration for HomePods with front-left, front-right, rear-left, and rear-right positions, along with a new “Party Mode” that distributes sound evenly across a room rather than optimizing for a single listening spot. The discovery marks the first evidence of Apple moving beyond its current stereo-pair-only home theater support since the second-generation HomePod launched in February 2023.
The evidence comes from code found in audioOS 27 beta 8, by MacRumors forum member pdfu, who uncovered references to these capabilities in the software.
What the Four-Speaker Configuration Includes
The surround system would use automatic calibration through each HomePod’s built-in microphones to measure the room and map speaker positions. Front speakers receive left- and right-specific processing tuned for wall and corner placement, while rear speakers get omnidirectional treatment designed to fill the market behind and around the listener.
The tuning files reference several advanced features:
- Timing adjustments: Automatic synchronization across all four speakers
- Bass management: Coordinated low-frequency distribution
- EQ processing: Per-speaker frequency shaping
- Dialogue enhancement: Prioritized center-channel clarity for movies
- Dual processing modes: Separate optimization for movies and music
For stereo content, the code suggests users could choose between spatializing sound across all four speakers or keeping traditional stereo limited to just the front two.
How Party Mode Works on Stereo Pairs
Party Mode applies a diffuse audio-rendering mode to stereo-paired HomePods that spreads sound into a wider, more ambient mix filling the room evenly. When enabled, the feature applies its diffuse treatment to music, Siri responses, and system sounds, distributing them throughout the room instead of anchoring them to the speaker pair.
The Unidentified “Forklift” Hardware
AudioOS 27 code references a system called “Forklift” that combines two full-sized second-generation HomePods with two additional speakers labeled with an AID12007 hardware identifier that matches no existing Apple product. Whether these speakers represent a dedicated surround satellite, a new HomePod variant, or an entirely different category is not clear yet.
Apple’s Home app and Apple TV currently provide no interface for configuring four HomePods as a surround system. Users can only arrange a single HomePod or a stereo pair as default speakers for Apple TV playback, meaning these features would require new software in both apps before they could be used.
The discovery arrives as Apple prepares for its September 9, 2026 event, where new iPhone models and possibly refreshed Apple TV and HomePod mini versions are expected. A new full-sized HomePod with Siri AI support is in testing but “doesn’t appear to be imminent” according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, suggesting a full HomePod refresh may not arrive immediately.
However, Gurman reports that a new HomePod mini, refreshed Apple TV 4K, and an all-new smart home hub with a 7-inch display are all coming soon, expected around October 2026. Code findings frequently represent features in active testing that never ship, and Apple has previously discovered and then delayed or shelved HomePod capabilities.
