Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman at this time stated {that a} new HomePod-like sensible residence hub with a 7-inch display screen stays on monitor to launch in 2025.

Gurman believes the house hub will probably be “Apple’s most vital launch of the 12 months,” because it represents the corporate’s “first step towards an even bigger function within the sensible residence.” In his e-newsletter, he stated the system will probably be like a “smaller and cheaper iPad” that lets customers “management home equipment, conduct FaceTime chats, and deal with different duties.”
Each a HomePod with a display screen and an Apple residence hub have been rumored by a number of sources, and it feels like they’re the identical product.
Final month, for instance, Apple provide chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo stated {that a} new HomePod with a 6-to-7-inch show, an A18 chip, and Apple Intelligence help would enter mass manufacturing within the second half of 2025. Kuo stated sensible residence capabilities could be a core side of the system, which aligns with the house hub rumors.
Gurman beforehand reported that the hub will be hooked up to a tabletop base with a speaker, or mounted on a wall. He stated the system will run a brand new “homeOS” working system with a customizable widget-focused residence display screen, and revolve round Siri, Apple Intelligence, and HomeKit. The hub may double as a house safety system by displaying digital camera footage, and a built-in digital camera would permit for FaceTime video calls.
Apple’s hub would compete with merchandise like Google’s Nest Hub and Amazon’s Echo Present. It’s unclear if Apple will truly use HomePod branding for the system, or if it is going to go for an all-new title, such because the Apple House.
Kuo and Gurman each stated Apple can be planning an indoor digital camera that might work with the hub.
It’s unclear if the present full-size HomePod speaker will probably be up to date this 12 months, however a new HomePod mini is anticipated to launch later this 12 months.