According to Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman, Apple is reportedly working on a new external monitor for Macs that doubles as a smart home display when not in use. On a newsletter, Gurman mentions that Apple is developing multiple monitor options, including potential successors to the Studio Display and Pro Display XDR. One of the monitors being developed could incorporate smart standby features powered by an onboard iOS chip.
If Gurman’s information is accurate, this wouldn’t be the first instance of Apple utilizing its own silicon in an external display. The current 27-inch Studio Display already includes a dedicated A13 chip, albeit with limited functionality related to camera and speaker features such as Center Stage and spatial audio while the display is active.
The use of an iOS device chip to enable independent smart features when the monitor is idle would be a progressive step forward. It could potentially leverage an expanded version of the new Standby feature in iOS 17, which transforms a horizontally positioned charging iPhone into a home hub displaying full-screen widgets. However, Gurman indicates that we should not anticipate the release of this smart monitor before 2024, at the earliest.