Apple is reportedly preparing to unveil a new smart home hub on October 13, alongside an updated HomePod mini and a refreshed Apple TV, in what would mark the company’s biggest expansion of its home device line-up in several years.
The new hub, reportedly carrying the internal code name J490, is expected to feature a square display of about six inches. It could be placed on a surface or mounted on a wall, putting it in competition with display based smart home products such as Amazon’s Echo Show and Google’s Nest Hub.
According to Brandspur Brand News, the device is expected to make Siri central to Apple’s smart home experience, with reports suggesting it could recognise different household members and tailor information displayed on the screen to the person using it.
The hub could also provide a single interface for controlling connected home devices, accessing Apple services, playing media and making video calls. Earlier reports have suggested that it may run a new operating system designed around Siri and incorporating elements of Apple’s existing software platforms.
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Apple has not confirmed the October 13 launch date, nor has it officially released specifications for the reported devices. The company has, however, been developing a display based home product for several years, with delays reportedly linked to the development of more advanced Siri capabilities.
The HomePod mini is also expected to receive its first major hardware update since its 2020 debut. While its overall design is reportedly set to remain largely unchanged, the speaker could receive a faster processor to support newer Siri functions.
Reports have pointed to an S9 chip or a newer processor, alongside an upgraded wireless chip that could provide improvements to Wi Fi, Bluetooth and Thread connectivity. The HomePod mini already serves as a home hub for compatible smart home accessories, including Thread enabled Matter devices.
Apple is also expected to refresh the Apple TV, which has not received a hardware update since 2022. The current Apple TV 4K runs on the A15 Bionic chip, while the next model could use the A17 Pro for greater processing capacity.
A redesigned Siri Remote has also been reported, although details of the proposed changes remain unclear.
If the three products are launched as reported, they would strengthen Apple’s position in the connected home market by adding a dedicated display to an ecosystem that already includes the HomePod, HomePod mini and Apple TV.
The reported releases would also represent some of the first major hardware launches under John Ternus, who became Apple’s chief executive in September after previously heading the company’s hardware organisation.
