Rumors say we’re getting closer and closer to seeing Apple’s Smart Home Hub make its formal debut, but the details are sparse. From what we’ve heard, Apple’s HomePod is expected to arrive with a digital screen, making it a convenient control center for all the smart gadgets scattered around your home. The Apple smart screen launch has not been confirmed by the company so we have no evidence that the gadget is more than just a fictional construct, but we expect Apple will confirm its existence during WWDC 2025.
A Smart Home Hub could be just what Apple needs to step further into the smart device category, giving more users a solid reason to invest in the Apple system. Bloomberg confirmed that the much-awaited HomePod with a display was scheduled for 2025, but it won’t be released until the end of the year.
Image: Apple HomePod and HomePod Mini
Apple Smart Home Hub Is Coming in 2025, But Little Is Known About the Device
Apple’s Smart display—a seven-inch screen with a camera and controls for the whole home—is expected to launch at the end of the year. The device was previously rumored to have a spring 2025 release in store, but internal delays are believed to have postponed the release even further.
The delay in the Apple HomePod’s release has been linked to the company’s struggles with Siri. Apple’s work on an advanced AI-powered Siri is now infamous for having failed to deliver on the assistant’s capabilities, and rumors suggest this capable assistant won’t arrive before 2026.
Apple’s Smart Home Hub is expected to function with support from Siri, so it is no surprise that Apple remains unclear about its launch. The delay with Siri is why Apple cannot commit to a release date for the AI-supported HomePod, and there’s a small chance it may be pushed back to 2026.
What Do We Know About Apple’s HomePod with A Screen?
Apple has not confirmed the device or even hinted at its existence, so we only have rumors to go on. From what we’ve heard, the Apple Smart Home Hub will feature a 7-inch screen, speakers, and a camera for video calls. The device will essentially function as a speaker with a screen, allowing users to connect all their smart home gadgets in one place and control them comfortably.
The smart display is expected to feature a rechargeable battery and various options for mounting to ensure it can be placed at a convenient location. The device will serve as a center for the HomeKit, and, powered by Siri, it will utilize a new version of Apple’s operating system, homeOS. Even if advanced Siri’s presence isn’t guaranteed, you can be sure that there will be some degree of Apple Intelligence integration across the apps.
There’s Not One, but Two Apple Smart Displays Under Development
What’s also interesting is that this HomePod with a screen is expected to be the first iteration of the device that might be rushed for release this year, with a more elaborate version coming out the next year.
This second device, codenamed J595, is rumored to have a robotic arm that can help it move and better interact with its environment. We don’t know how much progress Apple has made with this secondary gadget, but those who are interested might skip the upcoming HomePod Display in 2025, in hopes of seeing what the advanced version has to offer. This could be bad for business and hurt how the Apple Smart Home Hub performs on the market.
However, the second gadget will undoubtedly be far more expensive compared to the simple version expected this year, which could be what ensures that customers just give in and buy the less flashy one.
Is This the Right Time for Apple’s Smart Screen Launch?
Apple has updated many of its gadgets like the iPad and MacBook this year, and it also has a new range of smartphones coming out later this year. However, the slim iPhone Air aside, the company hasn’t made any big releases or showcased any industry-defining gadgets recently, and its last attempt with the Apple Vision Pro also didn’t land as intended.
Apple is doing completely fine financially and does not need drastic innovation, but there has been considerable disappointment around its failure to bring some new to the table. The rumored Apple Smart Home Hub also doesn’t promise any innovative features that we haven’t seen before, but at the very least, it could mark the company’s entry into a newer category. The HomePod with a display in 2025 could set the stage for the more elaborate Smart Home Hub release expected next year, which might just be enough to keep fans happy.
Amazon’s Alexa has been growing more and more advanced as an AI home assistant, and its integration in the Amazon Echo Show is clearly the kind of setup Apple is looking to offer. The Google Nest Hub has also enjoyed its position as a top choice for those who want a smart home hub, but the device hasn’t been updated satisfactorily in a while. The time is right for Apple to release its HomePod display, so we’re hoping the company gets its resources together and sets a release date for 2025.
Are you looking forward to Apple’s Smart Home Hub or is this an unnecessary direction for the company to take? Let us know what you think. Subscribe to Technowize for more updates on all things technology.
