Alphabet Stock Slides as AI Talent Exodus and SpaceX Losses Shake Investor Confidence 
Oracle Cuts 21,000 Jobs as AI Reshapes Workforce and Cloud Expansion Accelerates 
Micron Stock Surges on Strong AI Demand, Record Revenue, and Bullish Q4 Forecast 
Samsung Electronics Stock Surges on Report of Massive $59 Billion Share Buyback Plan 
WiseTech Global Denies Knowledge of Investigation Into Founder Richard White 
US Raises Concerns Over Possible ASML EUV Machine Transfer to China 
SK Hynix Moves Closer to New York ADR Listing Amid AI Chip Boom 
Anthropic AI Model Uncovers Vulnerabilities in Classified U.S. Government Systems During Security Test 
Samsung and SK Hynix Shares Jump After Micron Earnings Boost AI Chip Optimism 
Qualcomm Nears $4 Billion Acquisition of AI Chip Startup Modular 
Trump’s Quantum Push Lifts IBM Stock as CEO Arvind Krishna Receives White House Praise 
How AI prompting turned writerly description into an everyday skill 
Today’s space race could turn fatal if we don’t agree on new rules 
SpaceX Stock Rebounds After Sharp Selloff, But Valuation Concerns Persist 
SpaceX Stock Plunges 16% as KeyBanc Warns Valuation May Be Overstretched 
People have been waiting to see the second generation of HomePod for some time now, and it does not seem like that would become a reality in 2021 either. While Apple is reportedly planning to announce a new smart speaker next year, it could be an all-new addition to the product line and not the highly anticipated successor to the 2018-released device.
New HomePod to be released in 2021?
Bloomberg recently reported that Apple has “weighed” on the possibility of launching a new HomePod. It would not be a direct successor to Apple’s first smart speaker, though. It was purportedly planned to be, technically, a mid-range addition to the product line that would be offered in addition to the first speaker and the newly announced HomePod mini.
The wording used in the same report implies that no plans have been finalized yet for the supposed mid-range HomePod. It is then too early to determine if it is lined up for an announcement in 2021.
Meanwhile, it appears that Apple has more solid plans for an array of upcoming AirPods as the follow-up to the AirPods 2 and AirPods Pro were reportedly being tested already. The company has also been rumored for months to launch a high-end AirPods-branded over-the-ear headphone dubbed in reports as AirPods Studio. Aside from its features that include a sensor to automatically determine the left and right ear, it is also expected to have interchangeable ear pads.
HomePod mini vs. first-generation HomePod
Aside from the release date, there is also barely any information mentioned about the possible mid-range HomePod. But considering it is considered to sit between the first HomePod and HomePod mini, it could help to review what the available devices’ specs and features are.
The mid-range HomePods is most likely to have the same features found on both currently available smart speakers. The list includes Siri support, functions as a smart home hub, and multiroom audio options. Both speakers also work with known Apple apps, including Find My and alarms.
There is one component not present in the first HomePod but has been added to the HomePod mini this year called the ultra wideband U1 chip. While Apple has yet to make grand announcements about its ultra wideband plans in the near future, the company has been adding it to its recent devices such as the iPhone 12 series. It is then not going to be surprising to see it listed in the specs sheet of the rumored mid-range HomePod.
Featured photo by Ivan Bandura on Unsplash
