Key Points
- Apple’s smart home hub may launch by the end of 2025 after years of development delays.
- The basic version will include a 7-inch display and run on a new homeOS system.
- A more advanced model with a robotic arm will debut within one to two years.
- Apple is reportedly scaling back some ambitious features to meet production timelines. The product aims to rival Amazon Echo and Google Nest devices.
According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple is preparing to launch its long-anticipated smart home hub by the end of 2025. Initially greenlit in 2022, the device’s development has faced several delays, largely due to complications with Siri and Apple Intelligence integration.
The first version expected to hit the market will be a basic model, offering a blend of functionality from Apple’s HomePod and iPad. It is rumored to feature a seven-inch display and run on a new operating system dubbed “homeOS.” The interface is expected to resemble the iPhone’s StandBy mode, which is designed for easy interaction and smart home control.
Gurman notes that a more advanced version of the smart home hub is also in the pipeline. This upgraded model, slated for release one to two years after the entry-level version, will reportedly include a robotic arm that allows the device to move around a user’s desk. Apple has made this high-tech version a “major priority.” Still, the company plans to scale back some of its more ambitious features to meet its internal development timeline, potentially rolling them out in future updates or product iterations.
Although Apple has not officially confirmed any details about the hub, this new product is expected to compete with existing smart home devices such as Amazon’s Echo Show and Google’s Nest Hub. Apple’s design approach, premium build quality, and software ecosystem could position it as a strong contender in the space.
Notably, the robotic arm version may have a premium price tag, with early estimates suggesting a starting price of around $1,000. That would make it one of the most expensive smart home hubs, aligning with Apple’s history of high-end, feature-rich products.
