Should you have been hoping Apple will launch a major new good house product this yr, it’s possible you’ll need to mood your expectations. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman not too long ago doubled down on an earlier prediction that Apple’s anticipated “Residence Hub” gained’t see the sunshine of day earlier than 2026.
Apple’s HomeKit expertise has led the pack in some methods, however one space through which Apple has fallen woefully behind is in providing an actual good house hub. At the same time as Google and Amazon surged ahead with Nest Hub and Echo Present units, Apple appeared to suppose its prospects have been simply tremendous counting on their iPhones, iPads, and Siri.
Over the previous a number of years, it’s been clear that Apple is engaged on one thing to bridge this hole. Nonetheless, Apple’s front room technique has been all over, making it difficult to determine what it has in thoughts. Since 2021, we’ve heard stories of all method of recent good house units, from a HomePod with a display to a tabletop gadget with a robotic arm. It wasn’t till final yr that these started to gel right into a tangible product, when Gurman reported {that a} wall-mounted house hub was on the best way, powered by a brand new “homeOS” platform.
Sources say the brand new gadget contains a sq. six- or seven-inch display and is “in regards to the dimension of two iPhones facet by facet.” It has a digital camera for FaceTime, a chargeable battery, and inside audio system. It might be designed with the choice for mounting on a wall or inserting on a tabletop utilizing a docking base that will even embody audio system, just like what Google did with its first-generation Pixel Pill.
On the time, it appeared believable that Apple could be able to ship the brand new gadget earlier this yr. Nonetheless, by the point February rolled round, Gurman had revised his prediction to say that it wouldn’t doubtless occur, despite the fact that the {hardware} was ostensibly virtually able to go. Staff have been even reportedly testing models in their very own houses to supply suggestions.
Nonetheless, the actual downside lies within the software program. Apple anticipated its Residence Hub to lean closely on its way more clever and personally conscious Siri, which has fallen far behind its unique schedule. Following this yr’s Worldwide Builders Convention (WWDC), Apple’s senior advertising and marketing VP candidly admitted what most of us already strongly suspected: the brand new Siri gained’t be prepared earlier than 2026.
The place the brand new Siri goes, the brand new Residence Hub follows. As Gurman mentioned final week in an early 2026 product roadmap and yesterday’s Energy On e-newsletter, Apple isn’t even planning to attempt to ship the gadget till it’s labored out all of its points with Siri.
This gadget — code-named J490 — was postponed as a result of it made heavy use of the Siri options initially deliberate for iOS 18.4. These capabilities (now delayed) would let the voice assistant faucet into private information to satisfy queries and reap the benefits of the knowledge on a consumer’s display. The hub additionally relies on a brand new model of App Intents, which might permit Siri to extra exactly management purposes and features. The gadget is supposed to be operated primarily by way of voice, one thing App Intents allows. At this level, I’ve little to no expectation that the product will arrive this yr. As a substitute, I’d count on it in 2026 — across the similar time the brand new Siri lastly launches.
Mark Gurman
This isn’t an enormous shock, because it aligns with what we heard in April. Nonetheless, it additionally helps put a relaxation to any theories that Apple might need been planning to ship the Residence Hub early with out the superior Siri capabilities and add them later as a software program replace.
There’s nonetheless an honest probability we’ll see a brand new Apple TV and HomePod mini this fall, however these are prone to be little greater than iterative updates on Apple’s well-established merchandise. There are additionally stories of a display-equipped HomePod, but it surely’s by no means been totally clear which of those rumors overlap with the legendary Residence Hub and which discuss with a regular HomePod with an LCD panel on high.
That gadget may additionally nonetheless be on the late 2025 roadmap, however we’ve additionally heard so little about it in latest months that it’s laborious to say. Apple’s house merchandise sometimes fly under the radar as a result of they’re not as fascinating to leakers, and the iterative updates don’t stand out practically as a lot.
[The information provided in this article has NOT been confirmed by Apple and may be speculation. Provided details may not be factual. Take all rumors, tech or otherwise, with a grain of salt.]