New 'HomePod' Hub With 7-Inch Screen on Track to Launch This Year

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman today said that a new HomePod-like smart home hub with a 7-inch screen remains on track to launch in 2025.

Apple AI Command Center Concept Mock 1 TextlessA conceptual render of Apple's rumored smart home hub

Gurman believes the home hub will be "Apple's most significant release of the year," as it represents the company's "first step toward a bigger role in the smart home." In his newsletter, he said the device will be like a "smaller and cheaper iPad" that lets users "control appliances, conduct FaceTime chats, and handle other tasks."

Both a HomePod with a screen and an Apple home hub have been rumored by several sources, and it sounds like they are the same product.

Last month, for example, Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said that a new HomePod with a 6-to-7-inch display, an A18 chip, and Apple Intelligence support would enter mass production in the second half of 2025. Kuo said smart home capabilities would be a core aspect of the device, which aligns with the home hub rumors.

Gurman previously reported that the hub can be attached to a tabletop base with a speaker, or mounted on a wall. He said the device will run a new "homeOS" operating system with a customizable widget-focused home screen, and revolve around Siri, Apple Intelligence, and HomeKit. The hub could double as a home security system by displaying camera footage, and a built-in camera would allow for FaceTime video calls.

Apple's hub would compete with products like Google's Nest Hub and Amazon's Echo Show. It is unclear if Apple will actually use HomePod branding for the device, or if it will opt for an all-new name, such as the Apple Home.

Kuo and Gurman both said Apple is also planning an indoor camera that would work with the hub.

It is unclear if the current full-size HomePod speaker will be updated this year, but a new HomePod mini is expected to launch later this year.

Related Roundup: HomePod
Buyer's Guide: HomePod (Neutral)

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Top Rated Comments

macmac30 Avatar
2 weeks ago
Sorry, what is this going to do for those of us that already have an iPad, iPhone, Apple TVs…?
Score: 31 Votes (Like | Disagree)
FSMBP Avatar
2 weeks ago
Just like the regular HomePod, Apple will price themselves out on this.
Score: 24 Votes (Like | Disagree)
turbineseaplane Avatar
2 weeks ago
I see the rendering inspiration was a Magic Trackpad 1




I don't even know who would want this thing, or "why" ... but none of it will matter if it's overpriced

I'm a little skeptical about Apples ability to do something new like this and price it to actually sell
Score: 22 Votes (Like | Disagree)
sjjones Avatar
2 weeks ago
Why couldn’t this just be a special dock or stand for an iPad?
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Rayansb Avatar
2 weeks ago
This could've been an iPad mini with a stand and a software update to enable "hub mode". Rumors aside, it'll be interesting to see what Apple cooks up.
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
sw1tcher Avatar
2 weeks ago

All those things would work great on an old iPad if Apple would just come out with a "Home Station" app/mode and even released some speakers/docks.
? Apple won't even let iMac owners use their old Macs in Target Display Mode to help prolong device usage and reduce environmental waste, and you want Apple to allow old iPads to be used as a Home Station?
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)