Apple’s upcoming HomePad with display will abandon traditional app-based interfaces in favor of Apple Watch-style customizable faces, according to code discovered in macOS 26.7 beta by Engadget’s Filipe Espósito. The device is expected to feature a 6-inch to 7-inch square display running an A18 chip, with two variants planned, one with a speaker base and another designed for wall mounting.
Instead of navigating apps, users will customize “Faces” and access a “Face Gallery” much like Apple Watch users do, with different widgets appearing throughout the day through Smart Stacks. This approach emphasizes glanceable information delivery rather than traditional menu navigation, representing a significant departure from how Apple typically designs TV and smart display interfaces.
The HomePad will restrict sensitive data to times when your iPhone is detected nearby. Calendar events, reminders, and other personal information will only appear on screen when the phone is close, preventing the device from displaying private data to anyone else in the room.
This design choice positions privacy as a core differentiator against Amazon Alexa and Google Nest displays, which lack equivalent protections for sensitive home information.
Code references reveal two HomePad models in development with distinct codenames and intended use cases:
- J490: Base model, likely with integrated speaker or speaker base attachment
- J491: Wall-mounted variant, designed for fixed installation
- A18 Chip: Enables full Apple Intelligence support on the device
- Color Options: Rose Pink, Silver, Marble Gray, and Starlight finishes
A new HomePod mini is also in development under codename B525, replacing the current B520 model. Both devices are expected to run “Pebble,” Apple’s new homeOS operating system.
The HomePad serves as a central control point for HomeKit while supporting FaceTime video calls. A built-in camera enables video communication, and the device can display HomeKit camera footage, functioning as both an intercom system and security hub.
Integration of Apple Intelligence through the A18 chip means Siri on the HomePad will have access to on-device processing for AI tasks, a capability current HomePod speakers lack entirely.
The delays stem from software challenges rather than hardware issues. Apple has pursued the HomePad since at least 2021, when Gurman first reported the project. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicted a mid-2024 launch in March 2023, a deadline Apple missed.
The Watch-style interface genuinely shifts how Apple approaches home hub design, one that could reshape user interaction with smart home control if the company commits to this direction.
