Apple smart home hub is apparently delayed, set to launch next year now with AI Siri

India Today

14-07-2025

Apple's long-rumoured smart home hub is reportedly facing yet another delay. The much-anticipated device, envisioned as a central controller for HomeKit accessories with deep Siri integration, was initially expected to debut in 2025. However, fresh insights from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman now suggest that the product is unlikely to arrive before 2026.In his latest Power On newsletter, Gurman suggests that the delay in the launch of the home hub is largely due to Apple's reliance on a new, more intelligent version of Siri. The upcoming hub is said to depend heavily on 'Apple Intelligence' features and an enhanced App Intents framework, which will allow Siri to understand context better, control apps more efficiently, and respond in more personalised ways using on-device data. advertisementNow these AI capabilities, including a smarter Siri, were initially scheduled to roll out with iOS 18.4, but have since been delayed. Thus, the delay has pushed the launch of Apple's smart hub further. Apple Home Hub rumoured specifications
The anticipation for the Apple Home Hub has been long-standing. The device, which has been in development under the internal codename J490, is often described as a 'HomePod with a screen.' Reports suggest that the device might feature a 6- to 7-inch display—likely square-shaped—and be powered by Apple's A18 chip to enable advanced AI functions. The screen is also rumoured to be mountable on a wall or attachable to a speaker base, giving it flexibility in different home environments.In addition to controlling smart home devices, Gurman suggested the hub is expected to support FaceTime calls, display widgets, and potentially integrate with a new Apple-designed smart home camera for added security features.Long delayedGurman first flagged the delay earlier this year, noting that the launch was originally planned for March 2025. However, as Apple is working on refining AI-based Siri capabilities, both the software features and the hub hardware have been postponed indefinitely. Now, with further confirmation that critical Siri upgrades are still in the pipeline, a 2026 launch is becoming increasingly likely.In a previous report, noted Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo also predicted that a HomePod with a display would enter mass production by Q3 2025. However, in light of the current delays tied to software readiness, that timeline is now uncertain.While there are setbacks and delays, there are signs the project remains active within Apple. Earlier in March 2025, there were reports suggesting that select Apple employees were testing the smart hub in real-world conditions. More recently, references to a new display device were seen in the iOS 18.6 developer beta, hinting at continued progress behind the scenes. The code pointed to a screen resolution matching that of an iPad mini, reinforcing speculation about the form factor.- Ends