Apple plans October 13 smart home push with new hub, HomePod mini and Apple TV
Apple's smart home hardware refresh plan is out, but the launch has not happened and Siri AI readiness remains the key variable.
Apple plans to launch its first smart home control hub on October 13 local time, alongside refreshed HomePod mini and Apple TV models, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported on September 30.
The hub has a roughly 6-inch square screen in desk and wall-mounted versions, recognizes family members and switches to personalized interfaces, and controls devices such as thermostats and door locks. The HomePod mini gets its first hardware update since its 2020 launch, and the Apple TV its first since 2022; both switch to new processors to support the next-generation Siri AI.
According to the report, these products were originally planned for an earlier date but slipped as Siri AI was repeatedly delayed. Apple has not officially confirmed the launch; the date and specifications are as reported.