Apple Reportedly Could Launch HomePod With Face ID Feature In 2019

Although Apple’s first generation of smart speaker - HomePod isn’t available to consumers until next month, but according to a new report from Nikkei as they already looking to the future. The report suggests that Apple may be working to include its Face ID technology in HomePod by 2019.

The new rumor was out of Apple's supply chain over the weekend that suggests future iterations of the HomePod could come with 3D-sensing cameras supporting Face ID, like the True-Depth technology on the iPhone X. 

Specifically, Inventec Appliances president David Ho mentioned recently that the company sees a trend towards both facial and image recognition technology being incorporated into smart speakers, without specifying which speakers in particular.

“We see trends that engineers are designing smart speakers that will not only come with voice recognition but also incorporate features such as facial and image recognition,” President David Ho told reporters after the company’s earnings conference.

“Such AI-related features are set to make people’s lives more convenient and to make the product easier to use.”

Inventec Appliances is currently the sole supplier of both Apple's AirPods and HomePod, but also makes Xiaomi smartphones, Fitbit devices, and Sonos speakers, among others. Given the company's ties to Apple, analyst Jeff Pu predicts Ho's comments could suggest a Face ID-enabled HomePod in 2019.

Jeff Pu, an analyst at Yuanta Investment Consulting, said Apple could roll out HomePods with 3D-sensing cameras in 2019.

Apple's HomePod is set to release in December, although Apple has yet to confirm a specific release date for the new device. The upcoming smart speaker was first revealed during WWDC in June, where the company explained it would be a music-focused speaker with high quality sound, deep Siri integration, and spatial recognition for providing the best sound in any space. 

Via MacRumors And 9to5Mac, Image Credit CNET