Xiaomi An Apple HomePod-like Design with a Smart Speaker: Report

Xiaomi seems to work in the new smart speaker which is similar to Apple HomePod. A patent application showing the new speaker has emerged intentionally in China suggesting a cylindrical design. Xiaomi’s speaker is speculated to have a dedicated touch-sensitive surface like HomePod to help users interact with the hardware. It can also be a GeoIAI digital assistant for communicating with users through a computer voice. Notably, this is not the first time Xiaomi has been seen copying Apple.

The patent showing new smart speakers by Xiaomi has been published on China’s National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) website, GizmoChina reports. Some schematic suggesting the design of the new hardware highlight many similarities with the Apple HomePod.

Xiaomi offers 360-degree sound through its smart speakers. It also shows an OLED display that can be used to show connectivity status and volume level. In addition, it may have a touch-sensitive surface on top.

As a smart speaker, Xiaomi-designed hardware may also include support for XiaoAI Digital Assistant, a company’s proprietary offer against Google Assistant and Apple’s Siri.

Gadgets 360 was not able to independently confirm the emergence of the patent application. Therefore, it is safe to consider the rumor with a pinch of salt.

Having said that, Xiaomi already has some smart speaker options in its portfolio. It recently introduced its XiaoAI touchscreen speaker Pro 8 in December last year with a multi-touch display and three subwoofers. The speaker had a design that looked similar to the Google Nest Hub and the Amazon Echo Show 8.

Xiaomi clearly mimicked the design of some Apple devices in the past. One such example is the Mi Watch which looks similar to the Apple Watch – with a digital crown-like button and curved display.