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Apple will reportedly use new versions of the Apple TV and HomePod mini to launch its first custom Bluetooth and Wi-Fi chip, sources tell Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman.
The part, codenamed Proxima, is said to be limited to Wi-Fi 6E and otherwise fall short of the features in the Broadcom hardware used today. However, the extra speed isn’t as necessary for smart home devices like these.
Proxima will also come to iPhones “later next year,” Gurman’s contacts say, suggesting that the Apple TV and HomePod mini upgrades might come earlier.
As with the first-party modem unofficially expected to debut in the iPhone SE 4, the short-range wireless chip is believed to be part of a larger Apple strategy of taking more direct hardware control. It could allow for tighter integration between products and, in the long term, better performance.
It might also reduce Apple’s dependency on outside partners. The tech giant has had problems with third-party chip providers, whether it’s Intel’s struggles to make power-efficient processors or Qualcomm’s patent disputes. Proxima theoretically helps Apple avoid such issues with Broadcom.
What else to expect from Apple TV and HomePod mini updates
The Apple TV 4K was last updated in 2022. While the A15 chip inside is still fast enough for movies and TV-oriented games, it’s too slow for Apple Intelligence. Apple might include Proxima alongside an A17 or A18 chip that can make use of new generative AI features, such as a more sophisticated Siri.
The HomePod mini hasn’t been updated since 2020. While it’s not going to get the performance needed to run Apple Intelligence on-device, it has faced stiffer competition from Amazon and others that have improved the audio quality of similarly-priced smart speakers.
All HomePods also have relatively limited smart home integration. While they support the Matter standard along with Apple’s HomeKit, they don’t do much more besides serving as hubs with temperature sensors. Although Apple is believed to be working on smart displays, it might want to make its screenless devices more powerful in the process.
