Apple is preparing a new push into the smart home market with three new devices built around its upgraded Siri AI assistant, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman.
The lineup includes a new smart home hub with a roughly 7-inch square display, a refreshed Apple TV and an updated HomePod mini.
Sources familiar with Apple’s plans told Bloomberg that all three products are nearly ready to launch, with the Apple TV and HomePod mini expected this fall and the home hub arriving between October and early next year.
The move marks a renewed effort from Apple in a market where it has struggled to compete with Amazon and Google. The company’s HomePod speakers and Apple TV products have remained relatively small businesses compared with its larger wearables category, which includes the Apple Watch and AirPods.
Siri AI becomes the center of Apple’s home strategy
The new home hub is expected to be Apple’s biggest smart home move yet. The device will run a new operating system based on tvOS, with design elements borrowed from iOS and watchOS, including app icons, widgets and customizable clock faces.
According to Bloomberg, the hub will support FaceTime calls, home security monitoring, an intercom system, photo viewing, music playback and controls for smart home devices such as speakers and locks.
Its main feature will be facial recognition. The device will reportedly identify who is viewing the screen, understand their position in the room and adjust what appears on the display.
There will reportedly be two versions of the device: one designed with a half-dome base similar to a HomePod mini cut in half, and another that can be mounted on a wall using a magnetic system.
Apple TV and HomePod mini get AI upgrades
Alongside the new hub, Apple is also preparing updated versions of its Apple TV and HomePod mini. The devices are expected to keep similar designs but receive faster processors to support Siri AI features, according to Bloomberg.
The current Apple TV 4K uses the A15 Bionic chip, while the HomePod mini runs on Apple’s S5 chip. Reports suggest the new models could receive newer processors capable of handling Apple’s AI features.
MacRumors reported that the next Apple TV could include Apple’s N1 networking chip, bringing support for technologies such as Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6 and Thread. The HomePod mini update is expected to focus on internal improvements rather than a major redesign.
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Apple faces a difficult smart home battle
Apple is entering a smart home market where Amazon and Google have spent years building their ecosystems. The company’s new hub will compete directly with products such as Amazon’s Echo Show and Google’s Nest Hub.
The timing is important because smart home competition is shifting from basic device control toward AI-powered assistants that can understand users and complete more complex tasks.
Apple’s advantage could come from its tight integration across iPhone, Apple Watch and other devices. A home hub that recognizes family members and delivers personalized information could make Apple’s ecosystem more useful inside the home.
Also read: Apple is reportedly building its smart glasses privacy strategy around on-device processing, camera limits, and other safeguards designed to avoid Meta-style surveillance concerns.
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