New Delhi: Apple is reportedly preparing to enter the smart-home hub market with a new device expected to be unveiled on October 13, alongside an updated HomePod mini and a refreshed Apple TV. The products are expected to strengthen Apple’s presence in connected home devices and expand the role of its Siri voice assistant.
According to a Bloomberg report cited by NDTV Profit, the new smart-home hub carries the internal codename J490. It is expected to feature a display and serve as a central device for controlling connected home products, accessing information and interacting with Siri. Apple has not officially confirmed the October 13 launch or the reported specifications.
Apple smart-home hub could feature 6-inch display
The reported J490 device is expected to resemble smart displays already offered by companies such as Amazon and Google.
According to the report, Apple is working on a roughly 6-inch square display. The device could be used in different locations around a home, with options to mount it on a wall or place it on a countertop.
The hub is expected to act as more than a conventional smart speaker. One of its reported features is the ability to recognise individual members of a household and customise the information and responses shown or provided to them.
This could allow the device to connect different family members with their own accounts and linked data while operating as a shared command centre for the home.
Siri and AI expected to play a central role
The reported smart-home push comes as Apple works to expand the capabilities of Siri through artificial intelligence.
Apple unveiled a major Siri overhaul during its Worldwide Developers Conference in June. The company has been working on improving Siri’s ability to understand requests and provide more personalised responses.
The new home hub could provide another platform through which users interact with the upgraded assistant. Instead of relying primarily on smartphones, tablets or computers, users could use a dedicated home device to interact with Siri and access information.
The reported ability to recognise different household members could also support more personalised responses based on each person’s linked Apple accounts and data.
HomePod mini could get first update since 2020
Apple is also reportedly preparing an updated version of the HomePod mini.
The HomePod mini was originally introduced in 2020, and the reported upcoming model would mark its first major refresh since its launch.
Unlike the new smart-home hub, the updated HomePod mini is not expected to receive a significant external redesign. Instead, the changes are reportedly focused on internal hardware.
The device is expected to receive a faster processor designed to support Apple’s more advanced AI models and the company’s updated Siri experience.
New Apple TV also reportedly in the works
Apple is also expected to unveil a refreshed Apple TV set-top box during the reported October event.
The Apple TV is said to retain its existing physical design, with the major changes taking place internally. A faster processor could improve performance and provide the hardware needed to support newer AI-powered Siri capabilities.
According to the report, the new Apple TV would represent the first update to the product since 2022.
The combination of the Apple TV, HomePod mini and new smart-home hub could give Apple a broader set of devices for controlling entertainment and connected-home functions.
Apple expands its smart-home ambitions
Apple has been building its smart-home ecosystem through products such as the HomePod, HomePod mini and Apple TV. However, the company has not previously offered a dedicated display-based home command centre comparable with products from Amazon and Google.
The reported J490 could therefore represent a new category for Apple, giving users a dedicated screen-based interface for home controls and Siri interactions.
The move would also allow Apple to make greater use of its existing ecosystem, potentially connecting home devices with iPhones, Apple accounts and other Apple hardware.
Apple’s approach could differ from conventional smart displays by placing greater emphasis on personalisation and integration with its wider ecosystem.
New CEO John Ternus takes charge
The reported product expansion comes shortly after a major leadership change at Apple.
John Ternus, who previously served as Apple’s hardware chief, became the company’s CEO earlier this month. His appointment follows years of work overseeing Apple’s hardware development.
The smart-home push comes at a time when Apple is also attempting to accelerate its artificial intelligence strategy and strengthen Siri.
The reported launch of the J490, alongside updated versions of existing home products, could therefore form part of the company’s broader effort to bring AI-powered services to more areas of users’ daily lives.
October 13 launch remains unconfirmed
While reports point to October 13 for the unveiling, Apple has not officially confirmed the event, the J490 smart-home hub or the reported specifications of the updated HomePod mini and Apple TV.
The reported details, including the approximately 6-inch display, mounting options and personalised household recognition, should therefore be treated as reported information rather than confirmed product specifications.
If the reports prove accurate, Apple would be entering a smart-home display market already occupied by established products from Amazon and Google, while using its own ecosystem and AI-powered Siri as key differentiators.
The reported October launch could provide a clearer picture of Apple’s strategy for smart homes and how the company plans to integrate artificial intelligence into everyday household devices.