Julie Clover
Apple is planning to refresh the Apple TV and HomePod mini in 2025 as part of a major refresh of its smart home products, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports.
In a report about an upcoming Bluetooth and Wi-Fi chip designed by Apple, Gurman says the chip will feature in the new Apple TV and HomePod mini , which are “planned” for 2025. While no exact timeline is given, Gurman specifically mentions that the chip will be included in the iPhone “later next year,” which suggests it could appear in the HomePod mini and Apple TV before September.
The component will support Wi-Fi 6E, though Apple may not be able to match all of the Broadcom chip's capabilities with its own first-generation Wi-Fi chip.
The addition of a custom-designed Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip will allow Apple's future smart home devices to work better together and possibly “sync data faster.”
Apple is also working on a “Command Center” home hub due out in 2025, but it's unclear whether that device will use the custom chip. Command Center will feature a 6-inch display with a built-in speaker and camera, and it will be able to control smart home devices, make video calls, and more.
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