Apple Reworking Retail Stores Ahead of Home Hub Launch [Report]

Apple is planning significant changes to the layout of its retail stores this fall, according to Mark Gurman, with the scale of the overhaul suggesting the company's long-rumored smart home hub is nearing launch.



Store teams are already rearranging the perimeter walls known as Avenues, which showcase products including HomePod, Apple TV, AirPods, Beats, and third-party accessories. Apple is also adding dedicated accessory bays. Gurman says the planned changes appear too extensive to be explained by routine hardware updates alone.


The scope of the retail changes points to Apple's long-rumored smart home hub with a display. The new device category is expected to require dedicated demonstration areas where customers can see how it works, what it controls, and how it fits into Apple's broader smart home ecosystem. Existing store layouts are not well suited to demonstrating that type of device.

The company is also planning an updated Apple TV set-top box and a new HomePod mini for the same timeframe. Both products have reportedly been ready for months but were delayed while Apple continued work on the Siri and Apple Intelligence features expected to power them.