Apple is preparing to launch a significant expansion into the smart home on Oct. 13, according to a report from Bloomberg News citing people familiar with the company’s plans. The centerpiece of the effort is a display-based home hub, which Bloomberg says will be joined by the first HomePod mini update since 2020 and the first new Apple TV set-top box since 2022.
The report notes that Apple views the smart home as a major growth opportunity but has historically lagged behind Amazon and Google in the category. Apple declined to comment to Bloomberg.
A Hub Built Around Household Recognition
Bloomberg describes the hub as having a display of roughly 6 inches, square in shape, offered in both countertop and wall-mounted configurations. The report identifies multi-user support as the product’s key differentiator: the device is designed to identify which household member is speaking to it or walking up to it, then surface that person’s own contacts, messages, calendar, notes, and app layout. The interface reportedly switches automatically when a different recognized member approaches, and a guest mode conceals personal information.
According to Bloomberg, identification works through voice or facial recognition, though the report says the facial system is less dependable than Face ID on iPhone. Users can opt to require confirmation through an iPhone, which also serves as a backup when the hub fails to recognize someone. In low light, a virtual white ring on the screen reportedly brightens the surroundings to assist the camera.
Bloomberg reports that Apple expects customers to install multiple units around the home for controlling thermostats, locks, and other connected devices, as well as for video calls, intercom functions, music, and iCloud photo slideshows. The company also sees the kitchen as a primary use case, including voice-driven recipe lookups, video, and FaceTime.
The countertop model, as described by Bloomberg, resembles the 2002 iMac G4, with the screen mounted on a polished metal arm above a round metal speaker base featuring rings of perforations and a rubberized bottom. The display can be tilted manually. The report says the unit is roughly iPhone-thick, has a quarter-inch black bezel, rounded corners, a single front-facing FaceTime camera, and no rear camera. It has no battery or physical buttons and draws power via USB-C, with microphones and speakers housed in the base. It comes in Apple’s standard gray aluminum.
A wall-mount variant uses a thin, square base that sits flush against the wall beneath the screen and contains the speakers and microphones, according to Bloomberg. It also requires a constant USB-C power connection, a detail installers may want to note when planning placements.
Software and Ecosystem
Bloomberg reports the hub’s operating system combines elements of Apple Watch, Apple TV, and iPad interfaces, with iPad-style apps, Watch-style home screen icons, and iPhone-style widgets for items such as weather, stocks, and calendar events. Photo slideshows and clock faces figure prominently, similar to StandBy Mode on the forthcoming iPhone Duo foldable. Preinstalled apps reportedly include Calendar, Messages, Photos, FaceTime, Notes, Reminders, Music, and Podcasts, with several adopting an iPad-like two-pane layout.
Of particular relevance to the integration channel, Bloomberg reports that Apple is building a broader smart home ecosystem that extends HomeKit, adds support for new categories of connected products, and involves work with third-party manufacturers on devices designed for the Siri AI home platform. The report does not detail which manufacturers or product categories are involved.
Siri AI as the Foundation
Bloomberg frames the new devices as a showcase for Apple’s revamped Siri, which the report says was built on large language models developed with Google’s help, can pull information from the web, and is intended to be more reliable than its predecessor, including for control of devices, apps, and smart home products. Siri AI is rolling out this month across iPhone, iPad, Mac, and other Apple platforms, per the report.
Bloomberg notes that Apple originally targeted 2024 for the home display, HomePod mini, and Apple TV, but Siri’s repeated delays pushed the hardware back as well.
According to Bloomberg, the new HomePod mini and Apple TV keep their existing designs but gain faster processors to run Siri’s more capable AI models. The HomePod mini will reportedly add new colors, including green and pink. Bloomberg also reports that Apple intends to update the full-size HomePod at some point.
Apple’s Future Smart Home Roadmap
Looking further out, Bloomberg reports two additional products in development. One is a privacy-focused home security camera and sensor that can determine which room a person occupies without recording video; it is slated for a later release. The other is a higher-end hub with a 9-inch display mounted on a robotic arm, allowing the screen to move and swivel a full 360 degrees.
Pricing, availability dates, and details on professional installation or integration support were not included in Bloomberg’s report.
