Over the previous decade or so, Apple has expanded its lineup of working methods from two — iOS and macOS (nee Mac OS X) — to 6. It added watchOS and tvOS to the combination in 2015, forked iOS right into a separate iPadOS in 2019, and, most just lately, debuted visionOS for its spatial computing headset. Now, the corporate may very well be getting ready to debut a seventh.
We’ve heard rumors of a mysterious new “homeOS” since 2021, and this may very well be the yr that Apple lastly unveils it at subsequent week’s Worldwide Builders Convention (WWDC).
Despite the fact that it’s been engaged on the brand new working system for years, plainly Apple has solely just lately filed for a trademark on the title. As reported by 9to5Mac, Parker Ortolani found that “HOMEOS” was submitted for a trademark on April 16, 2025. Whereas Apple didn’t formally make that submitting, the corporate behind it, “Residence Operations Suite LLC,” looks like a entrance for a bigger firm, and a few of the classifications level to Apple.
It’s fairly widespread for Apple to file emblems by shell firms to make it troublesome for them to be simply traced again to it. In Could 2023, solely days earlier than the Imaginative and prescient Professional was introduced, MacRumors’ Joe Rossignol uncovered a “VisionOS” trademark filed by one other shell firm. That flew within the face of standard knowledge that believed Apple was going to name the brand new working system “xrOS.”
It’s by no means been solely clear what type “homeOS” would take, though its objective was evident from the purported title. Early stories ranged from merely giving the software program on Apple’s HomePods an official branding to unifying the Apple TV and HomePod working methods right into a single household.
The HomePod working system is internally named “audioOS,” however Apple has by no means used that title in any official or public capability; it started as a fork of iOS and was typically known as “HomePod iOS” or “iOS for HomePod” till 2020 when Apple quietly shifted it to utilizing a fork of tvOS. After that, it grew to become identified merely as “HomePod Software program.”
For the reason that HomePod continues to be successfully extra of an adjunct than a mainline Apple product, the working system that runs on it doesn’t actually need its personal model, so we by no means put a lot weight within the notion that “homeOS” can be the title of the HomePod working system. In the meantime, the Apple TV has develop into a platform unto itself, widespread sufficient to win a spot even in households the place Android units dominate and be really helpful by Android websites. It seems even Android house owners are sick of ad-infested streaming {hardware}. Who can blame them?
That makes it unlikely that tvOS will out of the blue morph into homeOS. As an alternative, Apple probably has a much bigger objective in thoughts. Over the previous yr or so, ongoing rumors of the corporate’s plans for a standalone residence hub and different residence automation units culminated in a report that homeOS would debut this yr to energy new {hardware} like a wall-mounted residence hub and a display-equipped HomePod. It might additionally lay the groundwork for grander ambitions, reminiscent of a “tabletop robotic” which will arrive someday in 2027.
Though we’re not anticipating Apple to announce any new {hardware} throughout its WWDC keynote, that doesn’t imply it may possibly’t unveil “homeOS” to offer builders a style of what’s coming. It’d start solely as an official title for what’s working on the present HomePod and HomePod mini, however it is going to be able to go when Apple unveils its extra superior residence merchandise, which may come later this yr.
By all stories, Apple had hoped to have its first-generation residence hub prepared by now. It was anticipated to be an iPad-mini-like machine that may very well be mounted on a wall or propped up on a desk, with an working system centered on offering the options most related to a house automation and sensible show expertise from an optimized model of the Residence app to apps for net looking, information, music, photograph slideshows, and even entry to notes and calendar data. It wasn’t anticipated to have an App Retailer straight away, however that may undoubtedly present up finally.
Nonetheless, one of many key capabilities Apple anticipated to bake into the brand new residence hub was help for extra superior Siri interactions. As you’re most likely conscious by now, Apple has been having a couple of issues smartening up Siri, and dependable stories say this has held again Apple’s sensible residence hub. The {hardware} is alleged to be able to go — to the purpose the place some Apple workers are testing these units in their very own houses — however Apple is reluctant to launch a half-baked model of the software program.
Apple may nonetheless preview the house hub on Monday and announce its availability later this yr. In spite of everything, the {hardware} is prepared, which implies it has a tangible product it may possibly present folks. There are additionally nonetheless stories of a display-equipped HomePod within the works — a regular model of the sensible speaker with the highest panel swapped out for an LCD display screen.
Alternatively, homeOS should still be a couple of extra months off. If an App Retailer isn’t within the playing cards but, Apple has little purpose to indicate homeOS off to builders as there gained’t be a lot they will do with it. Simply because Apple trademarked it in April (assuming Apple is behind it) doesn’t imply it must be unveiled at WWDC. Apple might merely be getting ready for the eventual launch of homeOS on new {hardware} this fall.
[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.]