Apple Reportedly Developing Smart Home-Ready External Monitor for Macs
Key Takeaways
- Apple allegedly designing a Mac monitor with built-in smart home control
- Expected to use an Apple Bionic chipset, similar to Studio Display
- Possible release sometime next year, though no official date confirmed
Recent reporting from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman suggests Apple is working on a new external monitor aimed at Mac users, with a twist: the screen would double as a smart home display. This would mark Apple’s first major step into the smart home market, letting owners manage lights, thermostats, locks and more directly from their desktop display.
The rumored monitor would combine a traditional high-quality screen for Mac computing with a smart interface for home automation. According to sources, it would run on an Apple-designed Bionic chipset, mirroring the approach taken with the current Studio Display, which uses an A13 chip to power its camera and audio features. While the Studio Display focuses on enhancing video calls and sound, this new device would apparently enter a low-power mode to function as a dedicated smart home hub.
Apple’s recently added StandBy mode in iOS 17 could offer clues about the user experience. StandBy turns an iPhone into a bedside-style display when charged on its side, showing clocks, photos, widgets and Live Activities. The same full-screen, glanceable layout may be adapted for the monitor, giving users a clear view of home automation data from across the room.
Beyond this monitor, rumors hint that Apple may also refresh its Pro Display XDR and Studio Display lines, signaling broader investment in display technology. However, the company has not confirmed any release timeline. Industry observers guess the smart home monitor may not arrive until sometime next year. Until then, Mac users can anticipate a potential future where work and home automation live side by side on a single screen.
