Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has revealed that Apple is preparing to launch a major new product in the smart home market later this year.
According to the latest edition of his Power On newsletter, Apple plans to unveil a new smart home hub that resembles a HomePod but includes a touchscreen interface. Dubbed Apple’s most significant release of 2025, this device represents a strategic push into a more prominent role in smart home technology.
The upcoming hub merges the design of a HomePod with the functionality of an iPad, featuring a 7-inch display that centralizes control of smart home accessories, facilitates FaceTime calls, and supports various interactive tasks. This innovation positions Apple to compete directly with products like Amazon’s Echo Show and Google’s Nest Hub.
Supply chain insights from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo indicate that this new HomePod will begin mass production in the second half of the year, including an A18 chip, supporting Apple’s Intelligence features.
Gurman also notes that the smart home hub will feature a square display with customizable options such as multiple clock faces and an integrated camera. This camera will support popular video conferencing applications like FaceTime and may recognize hand gestures, enhancing user interaction.
Additionally, Apple is reportedly developing a dedicated operating system named homeOS to integrate this new device with the existing HomePod and HomePod Mini lineup seamlessly. Based on tvOS, this operating system will likely enhance the user experience and functionality across Apple’s smart home ecosystem.
Projected to retail starting at around $1,000, the smart home hub combines sophisticated design with practical, user-friendly functionality, positioning it as a central fixture in modern households. As Apple continues to innovate, this launch could significantly transform the smart home technology landscape.
