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Apple’s long-rumored smart home hub, reportedly called HomePad, will be revealed on October 13th alongside a new HomePod mini and an upgraded Apple TV, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. The hub would be Apple’s first new product category in years, centered on its AI-powered Siri assistant.
Apple plans to reveal its long-rumored smart home hub — reportedly named “HomePad” — on October 13th, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, with the device debuting alongside a new HomePod mini and an upgraded Apple TV. The date, first surfaced in Gurman’s reporting and relayed by The Verge, would mark Apple’s entry into the smart-home display category currently led by Amazon and Google. Apple has not officially confirmed the event, the date, or the product lineup.
According to Gurman’s report, as covered by The Verge’s Tom Warren, the centerpiece of the October event will be the smart home hub, described as a new product category for Apple. The device is said to feature a 6-inch display that can either sit on a countertop or be mounted on a wall. Gurman describes the hub as “about as thick as an iPhone” with bezels comparable to those on older iPads.
The reported design draws comparisons to one of Apple’s most memorable computers. The hub is said to rest on a round, metal base housing speakers and microphones, with a metal arm holding up the screen — an arrangement Gurman and The Verge compare to the iMac G4, the dome-based desktop Apple sold in the early 2000s. The arm reportedly allows the display to tilt. Apple will also reportedly sell a second, wall-mounted version with a thinner base underneath for the speakers and microphones.
Additional reported details include a USB-C power supply — the device reportedly has no internal battery — and a finish described by Gurman as “Apple’s standard gray aluminum.” On the software side, the new operating system built for the hub is said to lean into iPad-like apps, with Gurman reporting that the Messages app uses a two-panel layout. The hub is also expected to support controlling other smart home devices, video calls, music playback, photo slideshows, and intercom-style calls, with voice and facial recognition to identify individual users.
All three products reportedly debuting at the event — the hub, the HomePod mini refresh, and the updated Apple TV — are said to showcase Siri AI, Apple’s overhauled AI-powered assistant.
Apple’s Push Into Smart Home Displays
If the reports hold, the HomePad would represent Apple’s first genuinely new hardware category in years, arriving at a moment when the company is under pressure to show returns on its AI investments. The smart home display market has so far been defined by Amazon’s Echo Show line and Google’s Nest Hub devices, while Apple’s HomePod line has remained audio-focused. A screen-equipped hub with camera, intercom features, and appliance control would put Apple in direct competition with those ecosystems.
The device is also positioned as a showcase for Siri AI. Apple’s revamped assistant, announced at WWDC 2024, has shipped later and with fewer features than originally promised, and the company has faced criticism for the pace of its AI rollout. Tying the new assistant to a dedicated household device — where it can recognize individual family members by face and voice — would give Apple a concrete product proving ground for the technology, and a hedge if iPhone upgrade cycles driven by AI features take longer to materialize.
For consumers already inside Apple’s ecosystem, a wall- or counter-mounted hub with HomeKit control, video calling, and intercom features could consolidate functions currently spread across iPhones, iPads, and HomePods — though pricing, a detail absent from the current reporting, will largely determine its appeal.
Years of Smart Hub Speculation
Reports of a screen-equipped Apple smart home device have circulated for years, with Gurman and other Apple watchers describing internal prototypes at various points since roughly 2023. The product has been widely expected to anchor a new homeOS-style operating system blending elements of iOS, iPadOS, and tvOS, built specifically around Apple Intelligence.
The October event would follow Apple’s usual autumn rhythm of iPhone and Apple Watch launches in September, with the smart home lineup reportedly taking its own dedicated slot. The reported October 13th date and the three-product lineup come via Gurman, whose Bloomberg reporting on unannounced Apple products has a long track record, though Apple routinely changes plans and timing before official announcements. The Verge’s coverage notes that all three devices are expected to feature the new Siri assistant, framing the hub as the centerpiece of a broader home strategy rather than a standalone gadget.
“The hub is about as thick as an iPhone.”
— Mark Gurman, Bloomberg
What Apple Hasn’t Confirmed
Apple has not confirmed any of these details. The October 13th date, the product lineup, the HomePad name, and every hardware and software detail described above come from Gurman’s reporting and The Verge’s coverage of it — not from Apple. The company has not announced an event, commented on the devices, or confirmed that the “HomePad” name will be used.
Key facts remain unknown: pricing has not been reported, nor has an on-sale date distinct from the announcement date. Full technical specifications — processor, display resolution, camera and speaker hardware — are also unconfirmed. Analysts and reporters have speculated that some AI features may arrive after launch or roll out gradually, but whether the new Siri will be fully functional on day one is unclear. Rumored launch dates have shifted before in Apple’s product cycle, so the timing could still change.
Countdown to the October Reveal
If the reported timing holds, Apple is expected to send out event invitations in late September or early October, which would officially confirm the October 13th date. The announcement itself should settle the biggest open questions: the product’s official name, pricing, availability, and the extent of Siri AI features at launch. Watch for follow-up reporting from Gurman and other outlets in the interim on pricing and on-sale dates, and for Apple’s own marketing once invitations go out.
Key Questions
When will Apple’s smart home hub be revealed?
October 13th, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. Apple has not officially confirmed the date, so it could still shift before invitations are sent.
What is the HomePad?
“HomePad” is the name widely used in reports for Apple’s rumored smart home hub — a 6-inch display device that sits on a countertop or mounts on a wall, with speakers, microphones, camera features, and control of other smart home devices. Apple has not confirmed the name or the product.
How much will the HomePad cost?
Pricing has not been reported. Cost is likely to be a decisive factor given competition from Amazon’s Echo Show and Google’s Nest Hub devices, which start at well under $100.
Does the HomePad have a battery?
No, according to Gurman’s reporting. The device is said to be powered via a USB-C power supply, making it a stationary device rather than a portable one like an iPad.
Will other products launch alongside it?
Reportedly yes. Gurman says the event will also introduce a new HomePod mini and an upgraded Apple TV, with all three products showcasing Apple’s overhauled AI-powered Siri assistant.
Source: rss
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