- Apple will launch a new home hub with a 7-inch screen between October 2026 and early 2027.
- The device will include facial recognition, automatic interface adjustment based on distance, and a tvOS-based operating system.
- In addition to the hub, Apple will update the HomePod mini and Apple TV with processors optimized for Siri AI, and is working on its own security camera.
- The product will compete directly with Amazon Echo Show and Google Nest Hub, integrating FaceTime, HomeKit control, and intercom functions.
After years of rumors and delays, Apple appears to be ready to make its definitive leap into the connected home market. According to multiple leaks, the company will launch a new smart hub with a screen between October of this year and the first months of 2027. The device, which combines a speaker, a screen, and the new version of Siri with artificial intelligence, aims to become the control center for Apple's home ecosystem.
The information, published by sources such as Mark Gurman of Bloomberg and reported by outlets like MacRumors, GSMArena, and Macworld, suggests that the hub will come in two formats: a desktop version and a wall-mountable version . Apple's idea is for users to install multiple units throughout their homes, so they can function as an intercom and as an access point to all smart home features.
A release that comes after years of waiting
The idea for a HomePod with a screen has been circulating since 2021, but it has been repeatedly postponed, mainly due to the development of Siri AI. Now, with the arrival of iOS 27 and the new generation of the assistant, Apple has found the right moment. According to journalist Mark Gurman, the hub will be unveiled between October 2026 and early 2027 , coinciding with the window in which the Apple TV and HomePod mini are also expected to be updated. The delay has generated some skepticism, but this time the context is different: Siri AI is ready, and the hardware is specifically designed to take advantage of it.
The device will run a completely new operating system built on the tvOS foundation, but with an interface that blends elements of watchOS and iOS. This translates into a home screen organized in a grid of icons, interactive widgets, and customizable watch faces. The technical undertaking is ambitious: integrating three distinct interface paradigms into a single system , which requires redesigning touch interaction patterns for an intermediate screen format that doesn't quite fit into any existing category.
7-inch screen and facial recognition
The hub will feature a square screen of approximately 7 inches. One of its most striking features is integrated facial recognition, which identifies the person looking at the screen and displays personalized information: favorite widgets, calendar entries, contacts, and notes. Furthermore, the interface automatically adapts to the user's distance : as someone moves closer or farther away, the size of the visual elements adjusts for easier reading. This spatial sensing feature has been mentioned in several articles within the same report.
The device's design is reminiscent of a HomePod with a built-in screen, but its focus goes beyond a simple smart speaker. It will be available in two versions: a desktop model with a base similar to a HomePod cut in half, and another designed to be mounted directly on the wall using a magnetic system. Apple expects users to purchase multiple units for different rooms , such as the kitchen, living room, or bedroom, thus reinforcing its multi-unit sales strategy.
Functions for everyday life at home
Beyond its visual appeal, the hub will come loaded with features geared toward everyday home use. Among the capabilities confirmed by several sources are FaceTime video calls, home security monitoring, centralized management of HomeKit accessories, a photo gallery, a shared calendar, shared music playback , and an intercom system that allows users to send voice messages between different Apple devices throughout the house. The intercom function makes particular sense considering Apple expects users to purchase more than one unit , as it's only truly useful when there are at least two or three touchpoints in different rooms.
The Siri AI assistant will be at the heart of the experience. It will not only respond to voice commands but will also adapt its interactions to each user's personal context. Artificial intelligence will enable more natural and contextual interactions , relying on language models that are improved compared to previous versions of the assistant. This positions the hub as the physical interface for a much more capable conversational assistant.
Parallel updates: HomePod mini and Apple TV
In addition to the new hub, Apple plans to refresh the HomePod mini and Apple TV in the fall of 2026. According to Bloomberg, both devices will retain the same exterior design but will receive faster processors that will enable full use of Siri AI . These releases were initially planned for 2024, but delays with the AI-powered version of Siri have pushed them back by about two years. Pricing has not yet been confirmed, although recent adjustments in several markets suggest the upgraded versions could be slightly more expensive.
These updates are part of a broader Apple strategy to strengthen its home ecosystem. The company is also working on a smart security camera that would directly compete with Amazon's Ring line, according to the same Gurman report. While details are scarce, their simultaneous development suggests that the hub won't arrive as a standalone product, but rather as the centerpiece of an ecosystem that Apple has been building for some time.
The future: security camera and robotic arm
Looking ahead, Apple has more ambitious plans. A premium version of the hub is rumored, equipped with a robotic arm capable of orienting the screen according to the user's position—a feature that would allow it to track the person during video calls or as they move around the room. This variant is in a much earlier stage of development , according to sources like Macworld, and is not expected to reach the market in the short term. There's also talk of a larger, 9-inch screen for this advanced version.
The launch of all these products will coincide with John Ternus's appointment as Apple's new CEO on September 1, 2026, a change at the top that could mark the beginning of a new phase in the company's strategy. The smart hub represents Apple's first truly new product since the Vision Pro , and the first designed from the ground up to function as a permanent home assistant.
After years of intermittent rumors, Apple is finally close to launching its own home hub, a product arriving at just the right time thanks to the maturation of Siri AI. The combination of facial recognition, spatial sensing, and a hybrid operating system built on tvOS raises interesting questions about how Apple understands human-device interaction outside of smartphones, and whether the public is truly ready to incorporate an additional screen—or several—into their home life. It remains to be seen whether the October release date will hold this time, given the project's long history of delays, and above all, whether the final product justifies the price increase and the commitment involved in adopting an ecosystem of multiple hubs distributed throughout the home.