Apple's Smart Home Hub Could Reportedly Arrive Later This Year
It could seamlessly integrate all your HomeKit devices into one centralized, user-friendly system.
Whispers of an Apple smart home hub have been floating around for years, but now, it’s starting to look like more than just a rumour.
After several setbacks, Apple’s much-anticipated smart home device may finally be on track for release by the end of 2025, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. Gurman also reported earlier this year that the delays have largely been due to challenges in upgrading Siri, Apple’s voice assistant, to handle the more advanced AI features the hub was supposed to rely on. While Apple hasn’t officially confirmed anything, Gurman’s track record gives this leak some weight and the details are telling.
The upcoming hub is rumoured to blend elements of the iPad and HomePod, potentially featuring a seven-inch screen and a new operating system dubbed “homeOS.” Think of it as an always-on smart assistant, somewhere between a dashboard and a digital companion, much like Google’s Nest Hub or Amazon’s Echo Show, but with Apple’s design flair. It’s also said to borrow from the iPhone’s StandBy mode, which could give users easy access to smart home controls, media, and notifications.
But what’s perhaps more interesting is what’s coming after the basic model. Gurman notes that Apple is also developing a more advanced version, one that moves around on a robotic arm, tracking users as they interact with it. That sounds futuristic, even for Apple, and it reportedly remains a “major priority” internally. But, in order to hit the early release window, Apple is said to be scaling back some of the more ambitious features for now, potentially saving them for later iterations.
Apple’s entry into this space is arriving late, especially considering Amazon and Google already dominate the smart display market. The company will have to do more than just offer a polished interface; it’ll need to prove it can tie its ecosystem together in a way that feels indispensable, especially if rumours about the robotic model costing upwards of $1,000 are true.
Still, with tighter Siri integration and Apple Intelligence in the mix, this could be the start of something more dynamic for the smart home. If Apple gets it right, the hub won’t just control your lights, it could become the centre of your entire digital life at home.
Louis Eriakha
