Apple's Rumored Smart Home Hub Still 'Months Away' From Shipping

If you have been waiting for Apple's rumored smart home hub to launch, prepare to wait some more. In his Power On newsletter over the weekend, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said the device is still "months away" from shipping.

Apple AI Command Center Concept Mock 1 TextlessA made-up concept of an Apple smart home hub

Based on that wording, the home hub will not ship until April at the earliest, but potentially not until much later in the year. Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said the device would enter mass production in the second half of 2025, so it is quite possible the home hub will be announced in September or later.

Gurman previously said 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." He said the device will be like a "smaller and cheaper iPad" that lets users "control appliances, conduct FaceTime chats, and handle other tasks."

The device is expected to be similar to a HomePod with a screen, with rumored features including a 6-inch or 7-inch display, an A18 chip, and Apple Intelligence support. Gurman said it can be attached to a tabletop base with a speaker, or mounted on a wall.

The home hub will run a new "homeOS" operating system with a customizable widget-focused home screen, and revolve around Siri, Apple Intelligence, and HomeKit, according to Gurman. The device 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 use HomePod or HomePad branding for the device, or if it will opt for a fully unique name, such as the Apple Home.

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Top Rated Comments

turbineseaplane Avatar
22 weeks ago
?

I'm sort of interested in this, but by the time they release it and with how they'll price it or restrict it or "something", I'll probably be uninterested by the time it's even a thing

It's amazing how little they can execute on at a high level any more
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
cocky jeremy Avatar
22 weeks ago
I can't believe Apple hasn't already gone all in on this by now. Cameras, motion sensors, robot vacuums, door bells, thermostats, etc.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MacAttack2024 Avatar
22 weeks ago
Literally why when you can do all these tasks from an iPad without having to get up and go sit in front of this device.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
McTool Avatar
22 weeks ago
MacGurman.
The reason I don’t visit the site as quite as often these days.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
goobot Avatar
22 weeks ago

?

I'm sort of interested in this, but by the time they release it and with how they'll price it or restrict it or "something", I'll probably be uninterested by the time it's even a thing

It's amazing how little they can execute on at a high level any more
I just hope it means they’ll do more for HomeKit and the home app
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Lounge vibes 05 Avatar
22 weeks ago
Just like the original HomePod, wouldn’t it make sense to announce this thing at WWDC then release it during the holiday season?
Unlike the original HomePod, it sounds like this thing will need some type of third-party integrations, even if they aren’t full applications.
The app functions and shortcuts with Siri, widgets, etc.
Plus the fact that this thing is supposed to run on an entirely new operating system called homeOS…
That’s my prediction.
WWDC: announcement of HomePad and homeOS.
July/August: release homeOS SDK to developers.
September/October: hold an event where you give a quick refresher on the HomePad, plus announcements for the new A18 based regular HomePod, HomePod mini and Apple TV to go with it.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)