Apple Smart Home Hub May Not Be Available Immediately After Reveal [Gurman]
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Posted January 12, 2025 at 11:57pm by iClarified
Apple's much-anticipated Smart Home Hub is set to be announced soon, but consumers may have to wait longer than expected to get their hands on it, according to a new report from Mark Gurman.
The device, codenamed J490, could be unveiled as early as March and will serve as a command center for the home. The smart display has reportedly been in development for around three years, with Apple CEO Tim Cook prioritizing its creation for the company's engineers and designers. Resembling a square iPad, it purportedly features a thick bezel, a top-mounted camera, a built-in rechargeable battery, and internal speakers. It is expected to come in Silver and Black.
In a newsletter to subscribers today, Gurman says the Smart Home Hub is deeply integrated with iOS 18.4 and iOS 19, which could delay its shipping timeline.
Then there's the brand-new smart home hub. This device has a roughly 7-inch screen and can help manage household tasks, run apps and conduct video calls. Consumers will be able to hang it on a wall or place it on a countertop — perhaps in a few spots around the home. Apple has been planning to introduce the home hub in March, but it may take longer to reach consumers. The device's new operating system — code-named Pebble — is heavily tied to App Intents features coming in iOS 18.4 and iOS 19, so it's plausible that the hardware itself will ship a bit later.
Beyond the Smart Home Hub, Apple is laying the groundwork for two significant innovations after 2025: a more conversational Siri powered by advanced AI and privacy-focused smart home accessories. These include an in-home security camera and a Face ID-enabled digital doorbell, both of which are expected to debut around 2026 alongside the revamped Siri.