Apple’s mysterious ‘HomeAccessory’ device may have an A18 chip with a square display

Apparently, Apple has been working on some new smart home device for a long time. In early July, backend code revealed a device called “Home Accessory” that suggested a new Apple product powered by the A18 chip and is currently included in the iPhone 16 lineup.

In a new leak, an anonymous source provided colleagues at 9to5Mac with more details about the potential iPad/Apple TV/HomePod.

According to the source, the “Home Accessory” device is a new smart home product from Apple with the code name J490. It will reportedly run on the A18 chip, though it’s not specified whether it will run on the entry-level A18 or the more powerful A18 Pro, which powers the iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max. The A18 will enable the smart home accessory to support Apple Intelligence features, which are also unspecified.

Several rumors claim that the mysterious smart home device will feature an iPad-like display, which automatically makes it potentially one of the best smart displays out there.

However, a source told 9to5Mac that in its “current state” the home accessory has a square display. The display has a customizable lock screen with multiple clock faces, available on Apple TVs with the new tvOS 18 update.

They also claimed that the product will have a built-in camera with FaceTime capabilities and other video calling apps.

The camera will be used for gesture control. It will even “identify the user” standing in front of the camera to enable Personal Requests. This is similar to how the current HomePod can identify different voices for the same function.

HomeAccessory will launch apps, play media independently, and act as an AirPlay receiver.

We have no information on the brand of this potential home accessory. Most previous rumors suggested that this would be the next generation of HomePod devices, but Apple may change the branding.

Is this enough to make our list of the best smart home devices? According to 9to5Mac’s source, we will have to wait until spring 2025 to see the device.