All signs are pointing to Apple making waves in the smart home space in 2025, with new reporting from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman about an in-house chip for Bluetooth and Wi-Fi and plans for a refreshed Apple TV and HomePod mini.

According to Gurman’s sources, Apple also plans to introduce an in-house chip for Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connections, internally code-named “Proxima.” This chip, set to replace components currently sourced from Broadcom, may debut in a new Apple TV set-top box and HomePod Mini smart speaker in 2025.

By late 2025, Apple will extend its integration into iPhones, followed by iPads and Macs by 2026, writes Gurman, an Apple reporter who has reported on several rumors about Apple’s planned smart home devices.

Apple’s move underscores its broader ambitions in the smart home market. A proprietary Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip would enable Apple devices to communicate more seamlessly.

What We’ve Heard About Apple’s Smart Home Plans Heading into 2025

Based on this report and others along the course of 2024 from Gurman and others, here’s what we think may come out over the next few years from Apple:

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• A refreshed Apple TV. The most recent version, the Apple TV 4K (3^rd generation) was released in late 2022, so the Apple TV streaming box is due for an upgrade. This also comes as Apple is rumored to be exploring developing its own smart TV set, and if the company actually does follow through on this idea, a release isn’t likely in 2025.
• HomePod. In addition to the new HomePod Mini that Gurman suggests is coming in 2025, Apple has also been rumored to be releasing a HomePod with a display in late 2025. The HomePod Mini was last released in 2020, and the HomePod (2nd Generation) came out in early 2023.
• A smart home control display. According to Gurman and others, this rumored six-inch display is designed to be a smart home control panel. The long-rumored smart home tablet will take the form of “a wall-mounted display” that resembles a traditional home security panel. It include Apple apps, Apple Intelligence, and an integration with HomeKit. The device will also feature a camera, a rechargeable built-in battery, speakers, and voice control through Siri.
• A smart home display with a robotic arm. A high-end smart home panel featuring a robotic arm is expected to be released sometime after this display.
• IP home security camera. Analysts suggest that the company is also entering the smart home IP camera market, with production expected in 2026. The camera is designed to integrate with other Apple products wirelessly. The company also recently won a U.S. patent that provides for a security system that combines facial recognition with body-associated data analysis to improve identification accuracy.
• Speaking of patents, a search in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office reveals details about other Apple propsective products, an augmented reality room projector for the home.
• A new smart home operating system. What this operating system will be called is unclear, but it may be a modified version of tvOS. It is expected to power the new home display.

Proxima’s Role in Apple’s Hardware Strategy

This development is separate from Apple’s transition away from Qualcomm cellular modems, but the two components are ultimately expected to function cohesively. This effort reflects Apple’s goal to integrate wireless capabilities tightly with its other hardware components, paving the way for innovative designs like thinner devices and advanced wearables.

By designing in-house wireless components for its devices, Apple gains greater control over the user experience, Gurman says. This move builds on Apple’s history of success with custom wireless chips in AirPods and Apple Watches, suggesting it may overcome initial hurdles in expanding this capability to its broader product lineup.

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