Apple remains on track to launch its first smart home device with a screen before the end of the year, according to BloombergIt’s Mark Gurman.
Gurman reiterated that the device will use facial recognition to determine who is standing in front of it and serve personalized content to that individual user. The description matches code found in macOS Tahoe 26.7 earlier this week, which revealed that the smart home hub will support multiple user profiles and use “ambient sensing” to verify identity. Apple is also preparing a new Apple TV and an updated HomePod mini as part of the same renewed push toward the home, according to Gurman.
Apple’s smart home hub has been rumored for years. It’s rumored to feature a seven-inch square screen with a front-facing camera, running an operating system closer to tvOS than iOS, with a home screen built around quick-access widgets. The price is expected to be around $350.
Apple originally planned to release the device in spring 2025, then targeted spring 2026, before pushing it back to September because Siri AI wasn’t ready. Gurman reported over the weekend that Apple is revamping sections of its retail stores to accommodate new smart home products.
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