Apple Set to Enter Smart Home Hub Market With October 13 Launch, Reports Say

October 6, 2026

A long-delayed home hub is expected alongside the first HomePod mini refresh in six years and a new Apple TV, according to media reports.

White Apple HomePod mini smart speaker on a table — Apple's HomePod mini, first introduced in 2020, is reportedly due for a refresh. Photo: Aconcagua / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Apple is preparing to unveil a new line of smart home devices next week, a launch that would mark the company's most significant push into the connected home in years and one of the first major product moments under its new chief executive.

Bloomberg News reported that Apple plans to make its long-delayed push into the smart-home market on October 13 with a new hub code-named J490, citing people familiar with the matter. The company is also expected to announce the first update to the HomePod mini since the device's 2020 debut and its first new TV set-top box since 2022.

Apple itself has not announced an October 13 event or confirmed the products. The company traditionally keeps product plans under wraps until launch.

A New Category for Apple

The centerpiece of the expected announcement is a device Apple has never sold before: a dedicated smart home display designed to sit in rooms throughout the house.

The upcoming hub, which is similar to Amazon's Echo Show and Google's Nest Hub devices, will reportedly take the form of a roughly 6-inch square display, with versions that can be mounted on a wall or placed on a countertop. Apple is said to be counting on many customers buying more than one hub.

Reports describe deliberately simple hardware: one front-facing FaceTime camera, microphones and speakers in the base, a display about as thick as an iPhone, and USB-C power. With no battery, volume buttons or power button, it would be designed to remain in place.

Amazon Echo Show 5 smart display on a desk — Amazon's Echo Show is among the established smart displays Apple would compete against. Photo: Japanwikisan / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0.

Built Around Siri and the Household

What Apple appears to be betting on is not the screen itself but the software and intelligence behind it.

The hub reportedly runs a new operating system built around Siri and recognizes faces, allowing it to show each person their own widgets, calendar and music. When the hub cannot identify someone correctly, an iPhone could serve as a fallback.

Beyond personalization, the hub is expected to control smart home accessories, make FaceTime calls, play music, display photos and support apps similar to those available on the iPad. Apple has reportedly been testing the device in employees' homes.

Apple iMac G4 with its screen raised above a round base — The tabletop hub may echo the iMac G4's distinctive dome, arm and display. Photo: Felix Winkelnkemper / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0.

HomePod mini and Apple TV Get Overdue Updates

While the hub would be new territory, the other two expected products are familiar devices receiving long-awaited refreshes.

The exteriors of the new HomePod mini and Apple TV are expected to remain unchanged, but both will reportedly feature faster chips to support Siri AI. The new HomePod mini may also come in new colors, including pink and green.

Apple is still working on an updated version of its larger HomePod, according to the reports, but that model is expected later.

Apple TV 4K unit with Siri Remote — The current Apple TV 4K dates to 2022; a refreshed set-top box is expected alongside the hub. Photo: Davidbspalding / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Why the Long Wait

All three products were reportedly planned for an earlier launch, and their dependence on Siri AI is likely behind the delay. The hub hardware was said to be largely ready while Apple waited for the assistant to catch up.

That history raises the stakes for next week. The hub's appeal rests heavily on a voice assistant that has lagged rivals for years, and its debut would test whether Apple's rebuilt Siri can deliver in a device where voice is the primary interface.

Aerial view of Apple Park in Cupertino — Apple Park in Cupertino, headquarters of the company reportedly preparing a broader connected-home push. Photo: Daniel L. Lu / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Entering a Crowded Market

Once on sale, the hub would compete with Amazon's Echo Show and Google's Nest Hub, whose lower-priced products have years of head start. Apple is likely to lean on tight integration with the iPhone and its existing ecosystem, along with its emphasis on privacy.

The launch may be only the first phase of a broader strategy. Apple is also reportedly developing a privacy-focused home security camera and sensor, as well as a more advanced hub with a 9-inch display and robotic arm.

What We Don't Know Yet

Key details remain unreported, including pricing, release dates, and whether the products will be unveiled at a live event, through a prerecorded video or simply by press release. It is also unclear whether tabletop and wall-mounted versions would launch together.

Those answers are expected on October 13, if Apple's plans hold. This article is based on media reports citing unnamed sources; Apple has not officially confirmed the products or the announcement date.