Apple is reportedly preparing a system that would enhance the home theater experience by using multiple HomePods within the same sound system. According to MacRumors, audioOS 27 beta code includes features related to four HomePods working together. In the setup, two speakers would provide the left and right channels in front of the television, while the other two would provide surround sound from behind. The system would automatically adjust bass, EQ and audio timing according to the speakers’ positions. “Party Mode” would distribute sound more evenly throughout the room in stereo pairs instead of concentrating it at a single point. The code also revealed the AID12007 hardware identifier and a configuration called “Forklift.” It is not known whether these point to a new HomePod mini or HomePod 3. While Apple has not issued an official statement, only software code is available for now.
Why it matters
These findings suggest that Apple may be moving toward a home theater approach that uses different positions in the room together, rather than relying on a single speaker or stereo pair. Automatic bass, EQ and timing adjustments could reduce the need for users to manually balance speaker placement, making the system particularly relevant for those with multiple HomePods in terms of ease of setup. The fact that Party Mode could cater to different listening scenarios suggests that its use may not be limited to a theater experience in front of the television. However, it remains unclear which product the hardware identifier and Forklift configuration seen in the code belong to, and whether these functions will be made available for existing devices or a new HomePod model; their scope has not been finalized in the absence of an official statement.
Background
Apple is not a new name in the FikirPilot archive: we have published 22 news articles mentioning this name in the last 90 days; the latest is dated September 2, 2026.