A recent WWDC session may provide a subtle hint regarding Apple’s long-anticipated smart home display. Although the event doesn’t specifically mention the upcoming device, it’s hard to overlook how these features could function on the rumored HomePad.
The session titled “Design Interactive Snippets” focuses on a new UI framework for App Intents. The goal is to enable developers to create compact, glanceable, actionable widgets—referred to as snippets—that can present context-aware information and quick actions within Siri, Spotlight, and Shortcuts. These snippets are designed to be lightweight and interactive, appearing as floating overlays at the top of the screen.
This seems beneficial for iPhones and iPads, but combined with recent findings from the iOS beta and prior reports about Apple’s homeOS, it’s plausible that these snippets are paving the way for something more significant.
The HomePad Connection
If you’ve been keeping up, DMN previously reported on internal references within the iOS 18.6 beta code that hint at a device operating on homeOS. The screen resolution indicated is approximately 2176 pixels wide, suggesting a display around 7 inches.
What’s notable is that the WWDC session specifically highlighted design constraints for snippets: developers are instructed to design within a height limit of 340 points to minimize scrolling friction. This is likely because such glanceable, quick-access UI makes more sense on devices viewed at a distance, such as a smart display across the room.
The session also stressed larger text sizes (exceeding system defaults) and higher-than-normal color contrast for improved readability “from a distance,” reinforcing the notion that Apple is targeting a new type of device here.
Additionally, even developer Steve Troughton-Smith noted the atmosphere, suggesting that the session seemed tailored for the HomePad.
Why Now?
Reports indicate that the HomePad’s scheduled launch earlier this year was delayed due to unfinished Siri updates. However, this does not imply that the software foundation isn’t already being developed.
As these new App Intents features and snippet design guidelines are introduced with iOS 26 and macOS Tahoe 26, it makes sense for Apple to begin quietly preparing developers. This way, when the HomePad (or whatever it will be called) is eventually released, there will already be a layer of third-party app support in place.
Meanwhile, snippets will begin appearing on existing Apple devices this fall. Yet, with new homeOS assets in the beta, clues about screen sizes, and this enigmatic WWDC discussion about UI overlays for Siri-driven intents, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to dismiss the indications that Apple’s long-awaited home display is getting closer to fruition.
