Apple Likely To Unveil Smart Home Hub, New HomePod Mini & Apple TV On October 13

Apple is reportedly set to unveil a range of smart home products on October 13. The highlight of the lineup is a new smart home hub, code-named J490, which features a six-inch square screen. This hub, according to analyst Mark Gurman, is designed to recognize household members and display their personalized content. It also promises to control smart home accessories, make FaceTime calls, play music, and display photos.

The device is expected to house Apple's own apps such as Calendar, Messages, Photos, FaceTime, Notes, Reminders, Music, and Podcasts. However, it will not have an App Store at launch. Furthermore, the smart hub will not have an App Store at launch. The product will also lack robust camera-based recognition, which is reportedly less reliable than Apple's Face ID on the iPhone.

The HomePod mini and Apple TV are also rumored to receive upgrades, retaining their current designs but incorporating faster chips to support Siri AI. The HomePod mini, in particular, is expected to be released in new colors, including pink and green, marking its first update since its 2020 debut. The Apple TV, meanwhile, will see its first refresh since 2022.

Apple's decision to delay the launch of these products until October 13 is attributed to their integration with Siri AI. It was originally slated for 2024, but Apple held back the releases to ensure seamless compatibility. The company is also working on a privacy-focused home security camera and sensor that can identify a person's room without recording video.

Additionally, Apple is developing a higher-end hub with a 9-inch display and a robotic arm capable of 360-degree rotation, along with devices from third-party manufacturers for the Siri AI home platform. The launch of these products comes just before pre-orders for the iPhone Duo open on October 16.