With a possible new arrival regarding the AirPods , according to a recent report by Bloomberg, the next Apple TV from Apple could diversify in particular with respect to the existing models so far with the presence of an integrated HomePod. The source says Apple is working on a new device that will combine the functionality of a streaming media device with a smart speaker , with a supplied webcam .

Such a device wouldn’t be the first to combine media streaming features with a smart speaker – Amazon ‘s Fire TV Cube already does, allowing users to control their entire home theater system with voice commands. Despite this, no company has so far integrated a webcam in a device of this type. If Apple was really working on such a gadget, it could end up falling for the Facebook portal or Mecool Now , both of which are designed to perch above a TV, where the built-in webcam allows for a better view of the room.

From Apple’s perspective, an Apple TV boosted with these additional features would make a lot of sense – the company recently ditched its HomePod smart speaker , choosing to focus on its much more affordable HomePod mini instead. Curiously, as Bloomberg notes, Apple merged its HomePod and Apple TV engineering groups in 2020.

The HomePod mini can already be used as a replacement for the pseudo-soundbar by pairing one or more speakers with an Apple TV. Given the massive increase in popularity of video calling services, including Apple’s FaceTime , a single device capable of combining these features could find a very large audience. The question then would be whether Apple would allow third-party video calling apps like Zoom , Google Meet , or Skype to stay on the platform or maintain exclusivity for the iconic FaceTime.

Price will also be the key to the success of a new Apple TV. At $ 180 or $ 200 depending on the configuration, the current Apple TV 4K is among the most expensive media streaming devices you can buy. Most competitors, like the Chromecast with Google TV, are around $ 50 and come with a very similar feature set.