Apple's macOS Beta Leaks Hint at Screen-Equipped HomePod and Tabletop Robot

A recent beta of macOS 26.7 contains references to unreleased Apple hardware, offering a preview of what may be coming to the company's smart home lineup, Engadget reports.

The most notable signal is a device referred to as "HomeAccessory." Engadget's analysis of the beta code suggests this is likely a HomePod with an interactive display—an idea that has circulated in rumors for years but now appears closer to launch.

Display and interface

The code indicates the new HomePod will run a variant of tvOS, but with a redesigned interface centered on "Faces" and a "Face Gallery." These are described as customizable watch-face-like screens that can host widgets and Smart Stacks, meaning the displayed information may change over time.

Privacy appears to be a design consideration. The device is expected to detect when the user's iPhone is nearby and only display personal details in widgets when the phone is present. The code also references support for adding iPhone widgets to the HomePod, similar to how iPhone widgets can be placed on a Mac using Handoff. Siri AI and App Intents support is also suggested.

Form factor and mounting

The leaked code references both "HomeAccessory" and "HomeAccessory_wall," which Engadget interprets as evidence of a wall-mountable version. The overall shape remains unclear, but previous rumors have pointed to a more square design.

Other products

Engadget also found references to codename J595 in HomeKit-related frameworks. Bloomberg has previously reported that J595 is a tabletop robot with a display on a robotic arm that can rotate. The beta references appear to confirm the project is in development, though a launch is not expected before 2027.

A new generation of the HomePod mini, codenamed B525, is also mentioned. Engadget cautions that expectations should be kept low, describing it as a likely minor upgrade. MacRumors has reported that new colors may be among the changes.

Beyond HomePod, the macOS 26.7 beta references new iPhones, AirPods, iPads, and Macs, but no further details on those products were provided in the report.

None of these features or products have been announced by Apple. The findings are based on beta software code, which can change or refer to projects that never ship.