- Apple is exploring new headsets and smart home devices to expand beyond its current lineup.
- Past plans haven't always worked out, with scrapped car plans and weak demand for the Vision Pro.
- Apple's future profits depend on the success of devices other than the iPhone.
Apple's possible future product lineup suggests that the giant is entering a new era.
Many devices are reportedly in the works at the tech giant, and many of them are very different from its golden child — the iPhone. Apple followers, including Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman and Taiwan-based supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, have said it's exploring new headsets, smart home devices, and more.
The tech industry has long speculated about what will be Apple's next big thing, and the answer may lie in the slate that people have been reporting on for the past several months.
Creating a hit product isn't easy. The company scrapped plans for an Apple Car in February, and the $3,500 Vision Pro has had mixed reviews in the months since its release. On Sunday, Gurman said Apple is focusing on smaller wins that can generate revenue on the same level as iPads or its wearable tech.
That requires Apple to tiptoe into new territory where competitors may already be making strides.
The most recent device Bloomberg said is in Apple's production lineup is a wall-mounted smart home tablet that could have the ability to operate home appliances, use Apple Intelligence, and access Apple apps.
The project, code-named J490, could come as early as March — a month before new Apple Intelligence features are expected to roll out, Bloomberg reported Tuesday.
Despite smart home tech not being a cash cow for Big Tech, there's another futuristic smart home device on Apple's radar. Bloomberg also reported that Apple is developing a tabletop robot with an iPad-like display and a robotic arm.
Analysts from Morningstar, Deepwater Asset Management, and EMARKETER were skeptical about the profitability — or probability — of the device's existence when Business Insider asked them about it in August.
Meanwhile, Kuo, known for his often accurate Apple product predictions, said in early November the tech giant delayed production of a cheaper Vision Pro to "beyond 2027" and will move ahead with an M5 processor Vision Pro with Apple Intelligence for 2025.
In the wearables category, Bloomberg said last week Apple is exploring AR glasses, perhaps inspired by the prototype Orion glasses Meta showed off in September. They are far from production stages, but Morningstar analyst William Kerwin previously said smart glasses are likely Apple's ultimate eyewear goal.
As CEO Tim Cook continues his 13-year tenure in the role, the 64-year-old is guiding the company into a new future. The next line of products Apple launches could solidify Cook's legacy.