Apple is set to launch three devices on October 13, including a new smart home hub called the HomePad. The company also plans to release a refreshed HomePod mini and a new Apple TV. These products will use a faster processor to support Apple’s new Siri AI features at home.
Apple is preparing to make a major push into the smart home market with three new devices tippede to launch on October 13. The lineup will reportedly include its long-awaited smart home hub, a refreshed HomePod mini and a new Apple TV.
According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, the three products are planned for October 13. The launch has been delayed from an earlier 2024 target, with Apple's next-generation Siri AI reportedly playing a key role in the wait.
Apple’s HomePad will be the biggest new addition
The biggest addition to the lineup will be Apple's new smart home hub, which has been referred to as the HomePad. The device is expected to have a roughly 6-inch display and can be used either on a tabletop stand or mounted on a wall.
Its design is reportedly inspired by the iMac G4, which featured a screen attached to a distinctive base. The HomePad is also expected to combine a speaker with a smart home control panel, allowing it to work as a central device for controlling different functions around the home.
The hub could also offer a more personalised experience for households with multiple users. Reports suggest it will use facial and voice recognition to identify people and then show information linked to their profile, including contacts, messages, calendars, notes and preferred apps.
Apple is also expected to include a visitor mode, which would hide personal information when guests are using the device.
The second product will be a new HomePod mini. Apple is reportedly keeping the existing design but upgrading the internals with a faster chip to support Siri AI features. The updated speaker is also expected to arrive in new colours, including pink and green. The refresh would be the first update to the HomePod mini since its launch in 2020.
The third device is a new Apple TV. Like the HomePod mini, it is expected to retain the current design while receiving a faster processor aimed at handling Apple's new Siri AI capabilities. It would also be the first new Apple TV set-top box since 2022.
Apple's focus on Siri AI appears to be central to all three products. The devices are reported to provide a physical way for users to interact with the company's revamped AI assistant at home.
The company is also working on other smart home products. These reportedly include a privacy-focused home security camera and sensor that can determine which room a person is in without recording video.
Apple is additionally developing a more advanced version of the smart home hub. This model is said to feature a 9-inch display attached to a robotic arm capable of swivelling 360 degrees. A larger HomePod update is also planned for a later date.