Apple is preparing its biggest push into the smart home market in years, with a new smart home hub, Apple TV 4K and HomePod mini all nearing launch, according to a report by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman.
The three products are expected to form the foundation of Apple’s renewed smart home strategy, built around the company’s new Siri AI experience.
New Apple TV and HomePod mini Coming This Fall
According to Bloomberg, Apple plans to launch a refreshed Apple TV and HomePod mini this autumn.
While both devices will look similar to their current versions, they will feature faster processors designed to support Siri AI. Bloomberg reports the products are known internally as J265 (Apple TV) and B525 (HomePod mini).
Apple recently increased the prices of both products, with the Apple TV now starting at $199 and the HomePod mini at $129.
Apple’s New Smart Home Hub
The centrepiece of Apple’s smart home plans is a brand-new smart home hub. The device features a roughly 7-inch square display running an entirely new operating system based on tvOS. The interface is said to combine elements of tvOS, iOS and watchOS, using widgets, apps and a familiar grid layout, could this be named HomeOS?
The hub is designed to become the control centre for the Apple Home ecosystem, supporting:
- FaceTime video calls
- Home security monitoring
- Household intercom functionality
- Smart home controls for devices such as locks and speakers
- Calendar, Photos and Music
- Customisable clock faces similar to Apple Watch
Apple is also reportedly developing a companion iPhone interface to simplify setup and management of the hub.
Facial Recognition Personalises the Experience
One of the hub’s standout features is reported to be facial recognition.
According to Bloomberg, the device will identify who is standing in front of the display, determine how far away they are and personalise the interface accordingly.
That includes automatically displaying information such as calendars and notes for the recognised user, while adjusting the size of interface elements to make them easier to read depending on viewing distance.
Apple is apparently developing two versions of the hub. The first, codenamed J490, places the display on a half-dome-shaped base that resembles a HomePod mini cut in half. The second, known internally as J491, is designed to mount on a wall using a new magnetic system. Apple reportedly envisions customers placing multiple units throughout their homes.
If the reporting is accurate, we should expect to see the new home hub arrive latter half of 2026 or early 2027.
More Smart Home Products Already in Development
Bloomberg also reports that these devices are only the beginning of Apple’s smart home roadmap.
The company is said to be developing a higher-end version of the smart home hub featuring a robotic arm capable of moving the display during FaceTime calls and interacting with people around the room. That model is expected to feature a 9-inch display.
Apple is also reportedly working on an advanced indoor security camera, codenamed J450, alongside a broader home security system intended to compete with Amazon’s Ring platform.
