Apple’s rumoured HomePod with a screen could snap to your wall like a giant MagSafe gadget

Apple’s long-rumoured HomePod with a screen may still be some way off from making our list of the best smart speakers, but a new leak suggests the company is experimenting with a rather neat mounting trick.

According to leaker and prototype collector Kosutami on X (via MacRumors), one version of the device – reportedly known internally as the “HomePad” – features a magnetic snap-to-wall design similar to MagSafe.

The idea, apparently, is that the smart display could attach directly to a wall mount, letting it act as a fixed smart home control panel, rather than a device that simply perches on a shelf or kitchen counter.

Kosutami claims to have seen the Homepod with a screen prototype in person, and says the device could also integrate with a smart doorbell system. That would allow it to display visitors or camera feeds on its screen – effectively turning it into a central hub for home security and smart home controls.

If the rumours are accurate, the device is expected to feature a roughly 7-inch square display alongside a front-facing camera. Apple is said to be positioning it as a multifunction home hub – capable of controlling HomeKit devices, playing music and podcasts, making video calls, and showing glanceable information like the weather or your calendar.

In other words, something very similar to smart displays such as Amazon’s Echo Show devices – a category Apple has so far avoided.

Earlier rumours suggested the device might resemble a small iPad attached to a speaker base, while others have described something closer to a traditional smart display with a fixed screen and built-in speakers.

Either way, the goal appears broadly the same – creating a central control point for Apple’s smart home ecosystem.

More recent leaks also suggest that the device could lean heavily on Apple Intelligence and Siri for voice interaction, potentially serving as a dedicated interface for managing HomeKit devices around the house.

Exactly when it might launch, though, remains unclear. The project has reportedly been delayed multiple times – largely due to Apple’s slower-than-expected rollout of new Siri and Apple Intelligence features.

According to Kosutami, the current timeline points to a launch sometime in autumn 2026, which would place it in Apple’s typical September-to-October release window alongside products like new iPhones and Macs.

Even then, nothing is guaranteed. Apple has reportedly been experimenting with multiple prototypes, and the internal “HomePad” name may never make it through the brand culling process. As with all Apple rumours, all we can do for now, is wait.

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