Apple has a huge product roadmap for the smart home: Here’s what’s coming
Apple’s home products (primarily HomePod mini and Apple TV) have been the talk of the town for the past couple of years . The reasoning is quite simple: the current iterations are 4-6 years old. Siri has been the holdup for new hardware releases, supposedly – but now that Siri AI is finally here, we should be seeing Apple finally start releasing some new Home products very soon. Here’s what’s in…
Apple is planning a major expansion in its smart home ecosystem. The company's existing products, HomePod mini and Apple TV 4K, are set to receive significant upgrades in the coming months. The HomePod mini is expected to receive a hardware upgrade, moving from the S5 chip to the newer S9 chip, potentially even more advanced. It might also introduce a few new color options, a new wireless chip, and enhanced audio capabilities.
The main focus is on ensuring Siri AI support, transforming it into a more capable assistant. The Apple TV 4K, on the other hand, is rumored to get a chip bump from the A15 Bionic to the A17 Pro, giving it the necessary power for Siri AI and enabling Apple Intelligence features to run locally.
In addition to these upgrades, Apple is developing a new smart home hub. There are two versions: one with a screen that attaches to the wall magnetically, similar to Google Nest Hub, and another attached to a speaker base, akin to Google's design. This product, tentatively named 'HomePad', is set to launch between October and early next year.
It will have a 7-inch display and run a new operating system called homeOS. The device will be powered by an A18 chip and will be able to make FaceTime calls, interact with Siri AI, and manage smart home devices.
Apple is also working on a potential update to the full-size HomePod, though the timeline for this is unclear. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports that this update is in the works and will likely feature a newer chip to support Siri AI. Beyond late 2026/early 2027, Apple has plans to introduce more Home products. These include a smart home security camera and a smart home doorbell, both set to launch.
The company is also preparing to release an advanced version of its smart home display product, featuring a robotic arm and a larger 9-inch display. This product, described as a tabletop robot, marks Apple's foray into creating advanced smart home hardware.
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