The Apple TV is kind of a unique piece of hardware by today’s standards. This is because with smart TVs coming with their own platform, having a separate piece of hardware as expensive as the Apple TV makes little sense, unless you’ve really bought into the ecosystem. In fact, Google’s Chromecast Ultra is actually a much better idea.
This is something that apparently even Apple’s engineers agree with. In the latest issue of Mark Gurman’s Power On newsletter, he cites Apple engineers who are bemoaning Apple’s seeming lack of living room hardware strategy, and that internally there isn’t much optimism on that front. However, it is believed that Apple could rectify this.
As Gurman had previously reported earlier this year, Apple is rumored to be developing a new device that would combine the functionality of the HomePod and Apple TV together. This means that it will be doubly useful and could appeal to those who want an Apple TV, but giving it the smarts of a HomePod where they can then control their smart home devices, play music, and so on.
However, Gurman doesn’t think that this device will be coming anytime soon. He believes that it will most likely debut in 2023 which is still a couple of years away. This makes sense because it was in April earlier this year that Apple debuted a refreshed Apple TV, so they probably won’t be updating it for at least a year or two.
Filed in . Read more about Apple TV, HomePod and Speakers. Source: 9to5mac