Apple's Smart Home Hub: A New AI-Powered Device Set to Launch This Year

Apple's Smart Home Hub Will Reportedly Launch Later This Year

Despite reports of a Siri-related delay, Apple might launch a smart home hub later this year, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports. The device, codenamed J490, is tipped to have a 6-inch, wall-mountable iPad-like display. It will act as a command center for smart home appliances, support video calls, and use AI to launch apps, Gurman said in a November report. The size of the device will be the same as two iPhones placed next to each other, and it will have thick bezels, a front camera, a rechargeable built-in battery, and speakers. Apple initially planned to release the device in March 2025, but the project got delayed due to the company's ongoing struggles with Siri, Gurman reported earlier this year. Now, he expects the smart home hub to debut "by the end of this year at the earliest." The upcoming device has the strong backing of CEO Tim Cook, who reportedly believes Apple could be "a force in the smart home segment." The company is also rumored to be working on a premium version of the smart home hub. Codenamed J595, the device will feature an iPad-like display mounted on robotic arms and be capable of moving around a desk. It's not expected to launch until 2026 or 2027 and could carry a price tag of around $1,000. Currently, more than 50% of Apple's annual revenue is generated by iPhones. With tariff threats and lawsuits looming over the company's golden goose, now might not be a bad time for it to launch a new product category and diversify.

Apple's rumored all-new HomePad may launch 'by the end of this year', per report - 9to5Mac

Apple has long been rumored to be developing a product for the smart home. It'll have a square 7-inch display, support Apple Intelligence, and essentially serve as a command center for all things Siri and HomeKit. While this product was on track to launch this spring, numerous issues have pushed that timeline. Now, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman - it may finally launch later this year. To recap, here are some of the key rumored specs for this new smart home hub: One of the biggest reasons for this product getting delayed so heavily was because of Apple's failed AI push. The product relied heavily on Siri and App Intents, which were supposed to all come to fruition by iOS 18.4. However, because of technical challenges, that didn't end up being the case. In fact, they're so behind that Apple themselves announced the delay - stating that the new Siri features with Apple Intelligence will roll out "in the coming year." Earlier this year, Apple started an internal testing program for select employees, where they could take the product home and get a feel for it. Either way, previous reports indicated that this product might not launch until 2026. If Apple can pull things together by the end of the year, that would be wonderful. On top of the smart home hub, Apple is also planning a more advanced smart home display with a robotic arm and "unique AI personality." However, that product has also been subject to delays. According to Gurman, this product will launch a "year or two later." He also describes this product as a "major priority at Apple." Though, to meet this tight timeline, Apple has apparently "pulled some bolder features" from the robotic home hub. Gurman mentions they may reappear in future hardware upgrades. No further details were given.

Apple's Luxo Jr.-like tabletop robot has reportedly been fast-tracked for launch

The next-gen AI device is a top priority at Apple, according to a new report. It's no secret that Apple's heavily rumored push into the smart home segment has taken a hit because of the Siri setbacks. The so-called "HomePad" could still launch by the end of this year (if everything goes right with Apple's new plan), but that's not Apple's priority anymore. An even more intriguing product is in the works and a new report claims Apple wants to ship it "as soon as possible." According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple has prioritized the development of a smart home device with a display attached to a robotic arm. Gurman reported on the device last August, but Gurman's most recent report adds a bit more context. The device, which will reportedly have "a unique AI personality," has hit a development "snag," which could mean Apple may decide to withhold some features for later versions in order to ship it quicker. Apple is on the hunt for its next breakthrough new product. It launched the Apple Vision Pro headset last February, but its high price and limited usefulness have hindered its growth. The home tabletop robot-code-named J595-could certainly be a bigger hit. Apple is already developing technology that would allow the device's arm to move in a way similar to that of Luxo Jr., the mascot of Pixar Studios. At the beginning of this year, Apple Machine Learning Research posted a paper with videos demonstrating "expressive and functional movement" for such a device. The research (seen above) looks impressive. As for the HomeHub set for later this year, it has been rumored to feature a small display panel, possibly 7 inches. Code-named J490, it could essentially be a HomePod with a larger display, with Siri playing a major role in its user interface. Similar to competing devices from Google and Amazon, it would provide Home controls for smart home devices such as lights and thermostats, and could also serve as a FaceTime station.

Apple's first smart screen could still launch this year -- but you'll have to wait for the robotic version

Problems with Siri have led to Apple's smart home products slipping Last October, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman wrote that Apple was planning two distinct smart screens to stake a bigger claim in the connected-home market. Now, in the Q&A section of his latest edition of his Power On newsletter, Gurman has provided an update. The good news is that the devices are a "major priority" for Apple as "part of its scramble to make AI-centric devices". The bad news is that the company's ongoing issues with Siri development have caused problems that will likely delay the more interesting model with its robotic arm, and possibly see some features being stripped out of the basic version, too. "The company wants to get this device to market as soon as possible, but there's been a snag," Gurman writes, explaining that while the more basic J490 screen could still arrive by the end of this year, "it remains up in the air" thanks to "problems with Siri". After the J490 is out of the door, Apple will turn its attention to the J595 -- a far more ambitious version, where a smart display can "move around a person's desk on the end of a robotic arm". This is expected "a year or two later", meaning we're looking at a release at some point between the end of next year and 2028, depending on just how delayed J490 is. Even with this delay, J595 may not be as ambitious as originally intended. While Gurman claims that the device will ship with its own "unique AI personality", his sources have stated that Apple has "pulled some bolder features" in order to ensure it reaches the market as fast as possible. These features, whatever they are, could "reappear in subsequent models". So what will these devices be like when they finally emerge? According to Gurman's original report, J490 will be an "affordable iPad-like screen" with a price point that might attract consumers to install a few around their houses. Indeed, Apple has reportedly tested prototypes with magnets for wall mounting. It sounds a lot like Amazon's Echo Show smart screen, but naturally with a focus on the Apple ecosystem. Think streaming Apple TV Plus, making FaceTime calls and accessing planning apps such as Calendar and Notes via a new operating system called homeOS (based on tvOS that powers Apple TV). J595, meanwhile, will be aimed at power users, priced at "perhaps around $1,000". The screen would be "positioned atop a swivelling robotic arm", with a "focus on home security monitoring, advanced videoconferencing and media playback with high-quality audio." As well as the aforementioned AI personality, the device would utilize Apple Intelligence to assess its surroundings, who's interacting with it and what they're doing. Like the Echo Show and Google's Nest Hub, both devices will also allow users to control their smart home appliances easily. Still, Apple Intelligence will apparently "offer home automation on steroids" while providing "precise control of applications, devices and media". J595 is undoubtedly the more interesting-sounding product, but it wouldn't be the first robotic smart screen. It may be the first mainstream one, however: while Amazon released its $1,499 Astro robot in 2021, four years later, it's still only available in the United States via an invitation.

Apple's AI smart home hub could launch this year, here are 4 things to expect

A more advanced device with a robotic arm may launch a year or two later If you've been following recent Apple news, you might have heard the rumor that the company is working on a home hub that would look something like a cross between a HomePod and an iPad. Given Apple's pedigree, it has the potential to become one of the best smart home devices around, and it now looks like the device could launch as soon as the end of 2025. That's according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, who claimed in his Power On newsletter that we could get our hands on this product "by the end of this year at the earliest" (although that's not yet set in stone). It could mark Apple's attempt to both dominate the smart home and make further inroads into artificial intelligence (AI) - something it hopes its Apple Intelligence platform will be a key part of. Interested in this device? We've heard a few things about it already, and it's certainly shaping up to be an eye-catching addition to Apple's product roster. That's due in part to the fact that Apple is allegedly working on an entirely new operating system for the product, potentially named homeOS, that is based on tvOS and will prominently feature Siri and Apple Intelligence. Secondly, the key focal point of the so-called HomePad will be its display. Here, rumors have pointed to a 7-inch screen with a thick bezel, with a front-facing camera mounted on the top edge. The latter will reflect an emphasis on using the device for video calling. The third point is that Apple apps will, of course, be supported. And finally, you can expect some features from other apps, such as the iPhone's StandBy dashboard. The focus, though, will remain on controlling your connected smart home devices. Apple has never really embraced the smart home to the extent that some rivals have. Sure, you can control connected products using HomeKit and the Home app, but these have their problems. Beyond that, there's also a surprising lack of Apple-branded hardware in this space. That could all change in the next year or two. But the smart home isn't Apple's real target here - it's artificial intelligence. AI is a huge, booming market right now, and Apple has already fallen behind due to its well-documented struggles with its Apple Intelligence platform, with a host of promised features delayed and missing altogether. Like many tech firms, Apple wants to get its AI into as many customers' homes as possible, so launching a smart home hub makes a lot of sense in this regard: it gives Apple another way to appeal to customers who might not be convinced by Apple Intelligence so far. This isn't the only smart home product that rumors claim Apple is working on, though. The company also has something up its sleeve that would comprise a screen on the end of a robotic arm, allowing it to be moved around at will. This more advanced product isn't expected until "a year or two" after the HomePad launches, though, while Gurman adds that Apple has "pulled some bolder features from the device" in order to get it ready faster. Time is of the essence, and Apple is all too aware of that. With its first home hub potentially launching later this year, we'll soon find out if Apple's efforts have been worth the wait or need more time in the oven.

Apple to Launch Smart Home Hub With AI Features by the End of 2025: Report

A more high-end model is expected to launch within the next few years Apple has long been rumoured to revamp its smart home device lineup with a new tabletop device that can move around a user's desk and has a robotic arm. However before this purported device is introduced to the market, the Cupertino-based tech giant may introduce a lower-end version that cuts down on several marquee features to retain a lower price tag. A seasoned journalist claims that the purported smart home hub could make its debut by the end of the year, equipped with a tablet-like display, camera, support for Apple Intelligence, and a new operating system (OS). According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple's smart home hub with a robotic arm, with the codename J595, is part of its plans to introduce AI-centric devices. With a screen size similar to an iPad, the purported device could have a robotic arm attached at the end, with the ability to move around on the user's desk. The journalist claims Apple aims to incorporate a "unique AI personality" in this device and while it wanted to get this to the markets soon, these plans have taken a hit. However, that does not mean the company's plans have been shelved. In the meantime, a lower-end version of the smart home device will be launched by the end of the year, as per Gurman. With the codename J490, it is reported to come with a 7-inch screen with a form factor that appears like a square iPad. There's a camera at the top, while it may also feature internal speakers, a built-in battery, and support for Apple Intelligence features. The journalist claims this purported device may function like an AI wall tablet, enabling users to control it with a touch interface, which in itself is said to be a mixture of watchOS which powers the Apple Watch and the iPhone's Standby mode. It is also reported to mark the debut of the iPhone maker's new OS dubbed homeOS. Its debut this year will be followed by the introduction of the tabletop smart home device with a robotic arm "a year or two later". To get it ready in time for production, Apple is said to have cut down on some features which we may see in its future iterations. While official details still remain under wraps, the company aims to make a name in the smart home device market after losing ground to the likes of Amazon and Google which offer Alexa and Nest devices, respectively.

Top-secret Apple device could launch in 2025, and the rumor mill is in overdrive - here's everything we know

Apple is reportedly developing its first smart home hub, potentially launching by the end of 2025. This device, resembling a blend of HomePod and iPad with a 7-inch screen, will run on homeOS and integrate Apple apps.Apple may be secretly planning to venture into a whole new product category, and according to the latest report, a much-mulled smart home device may soon be launched before the end of this year, as per The Sun. Speculation regarding this secret project has been going on since 2022, but a new report by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has now indicated that Apple could be releasing its long-awaited smart home hub by the end of 2025, according to the report. Apple is developing its first smart home hub ever, a product that will rival the likes of Amazon's Echo Show. It is said to have a 7-inch square screen, a bulky bezel, and a design that feels like a cross between a HomePod and an iPad, according to The Sun. ALSO READ: From cocaine to a slap, Emmanuel Macron is in the news for all the wrong reasons as netizens seize the opportunity to troll him The device is said to use a brand new operating system named homeOS, one that will be dedicated to managing other smart home devices, along with a rechargeable battery, as per a report. It's expected to have a camera at the top and have video apps like FaceTime and may also include other Apple apps, like Apple TV, Apple Music and Photos, as per the report. According to The Sun, Apple is also said to be planning a more advanced smart home display with a robotic arm for the future, which will have a "unique AI personality", according to The Sun. The expected starting price of this device is anticipated to be $1,000 (£738), reported The Sun. Apple is apparently holding back to release a significant Siri upgrade as part of its larger artificial intelligence plan, Apple Intelligence, according to The Sun. The idea is to have Siri be more contextually aware, able to interpret questions such as "What time does dad's train get in?" by pulling on a person's individual data within apps, as per the report. But Apple confirmed in a statement to Daring Fireball, "We've also been working on a more personalised Siri, giving it more awareness of your personal context, as well as the ability to take action for you within and across your apps. It's going to take us longer than we thought to deliver on these features and we anticipate rolling them out in the coming year," quoted The Sun. This is the reason that experts speculate that the new Apple gadget could be released around the same time as the super-smart Siri later this year, reported The Sun. When will Apple's smart home hub launch? According to reports, Apple is aiming to launch it by the end of 2025, though it may depend on when their updated Siri is ready, as per The Sun. What makes this different from Amazon Echo Show or Google Nest Hub? It's expected to come with Apple's own operating system (called homeOS), Apple apps integration, and possibly a smarter version of Siri.

Apple reportedly working on Smart Home Hub with AI features: Here's what we know

A high-end version (J595) with a robotic arm is expected to launch globally within two years. Following a slew of rumours about the iPhone 17 series, new leaks indicate that Apple is working on a brand-new smart home hub. This comes after Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported that Apple wants to expand its product line and is working on a new device codenamed J490. It is said to have a 7-inch tablet-style display, a built-in camera, internal speakers, and a battery for versatile home placement. The report also stated that it could be powered by Apple Intelligence, Apple's suite of AI-powered features. If the reports are accurate, Apple will finally enter the smart home market, which is currently dominated by Amazon Echo and Google Nest. The report also stated that the new smart home hub will combine software elements from watchOS and iPhone StandBy Mode and could be the debut device for homeOS, Apple's rumored new smart home operating system. The device will be able to function as a wall mounted smart display which also offers touch and voice controls that can manage smart home devices, calendar events, weather updates, video calls and so much more. Also read: Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra 5G price drops by Rs 34,969 on Amazon The company has not acknowledged the product at the moment but is also working on the more advanced version -- codenamed J595. This device reportedly has a robotic arm that can move across a surface. If the reports are believed to be true, this high-end version is said to make its global debut in the next two years. It's now clear that Apple is planning to step into the home category, especially after adopting the Matter standard to improve compatibility with third-party IoT devices. This could be a move to catch up with competitors such as OpenAI, which has previously collaborated with Jony Ivy, a veteran Apple designer, to launch AI hardware products with the goal of making AI accessible to all.