Apple macOS Beta Code Reveals Smart Display Hardware and Robotic Arm Hub

Unreleased software code discovered in a developer beta of macOS confirms Apple is actively preparing an expansion into screen-equipped smart home devices, exposing user interface frameworks for a home display codenamed “HomeAccessory” alongside configuration files for a robotic tabletop unit.

The internal references mark a direct move by Apple to establish a presence in dedicated smart displays, a product category currently led by Amazon’s Echo Show line and Google’s Nest Hub. Industry data from Strategy Analytics indicates smart displays represent over a quarter of global smart speaker device shipments—a hardware segment Apple has missed since launching its original, screenless HomePod in 2018 and subsequent HomePod mini in 2020.

Software components found within the macOS beta reveal that Apple’s primary upcoming display device runs a modified derivative of tvOS. The interface introduces customizable home screen layouts styled after Apple Watch interfaces, identified in the codebase as “Faces” and a centralized “Face Gallery.” Users can populate these display faces with dynamic widgets and Smart Stacks that automatically refresh information depending on the time of day.

The code also suggests that the new HomePod can detect when the user’s iPhone is nearby to decide whether or not to display personal information in the widgets. That’s a really nice touch for keeping sensitive data private. iPhone widgets can also be added to this HomePod. It should work much like placing iPhone app widgets on your Mac using Handoff. Support for Siri AI and App Intents is also expected based on what the code tells us.

Beyond internal software features, the operating system leak confirms distinct hardware configurations. Code references specifying both standard “HomeAccessory” and “HomeAccessory_wall” confirm that Apple has engineered both standalone tabletop models and wall-mounted variants aimed at controlling home automation systems.

There’s another intriguing product that’s been rumored recently: a tabletop robot. According to Bloomberg, it’s expected to feature a display attached to a robotic arm that can rotate in any direction. While product specs are still quite vague, the product is reported to be codenamed J595. References to that codename can be found in HomeKit-related frameworks in this macOS beta, seemingly confirming that the product is indeed in development. Don’t expect to see the tabletop robot anytime soon, though. It probably won’t be unveiled before 2027.

Additional hardware pointers in the beta system files include a refresh for Apple’s compact speaker line under the codename B525, representing an updated HomePod mini designed to operate as a low-cost network node within the company’s broader smart home architecture.