According to the latest Power On newsletter by Mark Gurman, Apple is reportedly developing a new external display for Macs that can also function as a smart home display when not in use.
Apple is said to be working on multiple monitor options, potentially serving as direct successors to the Pro Display XDR and Apple Studio Display.
The smart display is expected to utilize an iOS device chip, which is not surprising considering the Studio Display operates in a similar manner, running on an internal A13 chip. However, the intelligence of the software on the Studio Display is mainly focused on the camera and speaker system, featuring functionalities like Center Stage and Spatial Audio.
The concept of a display that can transform into a smart home device in a low-power idle mode is a more ambitious and intriguing development.
There have been speculations that the user interface of the StandBy feature introduced in iOS 17 on iPhones could be adapted for a dedicated hardware device, providing a potential glimpse into the smart display software.
However, Gurman suggests that the release of the new smart monitor is not expected until next year, at the earliest. Apple enthusiasts will have to wait patiently to see this innovative display technology come to fruition.
