Apple appears to be working on major upgrades to its HomePod lineup, including support for a four-speaker surround sound system and a new audio mode called “Party Mode,” based on code discovered in audioOS 27 beta 8. These features were uncovered by developers examining beta firmware. While nothing is confirmed yet, the code gives a pretty clear look at what Apple might have in store.
Code Hints at Four-Speaker Surround Capabilities
The firmware references support for configuring second-generation HomePods into a quad setup: front left, front right, rear left, and rear right. To handle this kind of arrangement, the software includes elements like automatic room calibration, speaker placement mapping, timing allowances, bass management, EQ adjustments, and modes tuned separately for movies versus music. The goal seems to be delivering immersive audio, whether you’re watching a film or listening to tracks.
For stereo content, the system may offer two modes. One spreads stereo across all four speakers for enveloping sound, while another limits output to just the front pair for a more traditional listening experience. The code also mentions a component named “Forklift,” which appears to involve combining two second-generation HomePods with two speakers tagged under an “AID12007” hardware identifier. That identifier hasn’t been seen before and could belong to an upcoming HomePod mini, a third-generation HomePod, or another new audio device.
‘Party Mode’ and Hardware Refresh Speculation
Beyond surround sound, a “Party Mode” is also mentioned, aimed at stereo-paired HomePods. This mode would create a broader, more diffuse soundfield for more even coverage across a room. It’s less about a single hotspot of listening focus and more about spreading the audio to make gatherings more immersive.
At present, there’s no user-visible way to set up a four-Pod surround system via Apple TV or the Home app. These features do not show up anywhere in the system settings yet. The code simply indicates Apple is testing these capabilities; whether they’ll make it into a public release remains to be seen.
That said, rumors from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman suggest that Apple is preparing a refresh of its audio hardware—potentially new HomePod minis, a new Apple TV, and an updated smart home hub. Such a hardware refresh could serve as the vehicle for these features. If Apple wants to push surround sound or Party Mode in a meaningful way, having updated devices with compatible hardware needs to be part of the rollout.
What this development suggests is Apple is leaning more heavily into elevating the HomePod as a full-room, home theater-style audio solution—not just a smart speaker. For anyone invested in Apple’s ecosystem, these changes could finally bring parity with other premium surround systems. What to watch: when the next HomePod firmware drops, whether the Home and Apple TV apps gain visible configuration tools, and whether the mysterious AID12007 hardware shows up in a new product.”
