Apple is reportedly preparing to unveil a new smart home lineup tomorrow, October 13, featuring the HomeView smart display, an updated HomePod mini, and a new Apple TV. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the move forms part of a broader effort to expand Apple’s smart home ecosystem through new hardware, software improvements, and third-party accessories.
Apple’s smart home efforts so far
Apple introduced HomeKit in 2014 as an iOS framework for controlling connected devices, including door locks, security cameras, appliances, and home automation systems. In 2016, it launched the Home app to provide a central place to manage compatible accessories. However, these efforts did not create the broad smart home ecosystem Apple built around the iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
Several factors limited Apple’s progress:
Third-party accessories: Strict requirements made compatible products more expensive and complicated to develop, while Apple did little to promote them.
- First-party hardware: The HomePod failed to become a mainstream hit, limiting Apple’s reach in the smart speaker market.
- Voice control: Siri’s limitations made the experience less capable than competing alternatives.
Meanwhile, Amazon and Google gained ground with Echo and Nest devices, wider accessory support, and more capable voice assistants. The report notes that AI-powered devices from these companies or OpenAI could pose a greater challenge to Apple by giving users reasons to leave its ecosystem if their homes are not already connected.
Apple HomeView smart display
The reported main offering in the lineup is HomeView, a smart home hub powered by the A18 chip. It is expected to provide access to Siri and serve as a central point for controlling connected devices.
Apple is reportedly preparing two versions of HomeView:
- Countertop model: A display mounted on a metal speaker base, available in Space Gray, Silver, Starlight, and Pink.
- Wall-mounted model: A display attached to a flat, square base, available in Space Gray and Silver.
Although HomeView will support touch input, voice commands are expected to be its primary method of interaction. The device will reportedly support a limited selection of Apple apps and will not include an App Store. Users will control third-party accessories through Siri, the Home app, and other Apple devices.
MacRumors reported that the HomeView name was linked to a trademark filing made through a shell company in September 2024. The name reportedly reflects the display’s role as a screen users can view and control primarily through voice, rather than a device intended for extensive direct interaction like an iPad.
Updated HomePod mini and Apple TV
The updated HomePod mini is expected to use Apple’s S10 chip. It will continue to handle voice commands and music playback, while HomeView is expected to offer a larger interface and improved sound output. The new HomePod mini is reportedly planned in Pink, White, Green, Blue, and Midnight.
The new Apple TV is expected to use the A19 chip. Apple has reportedly tested built-in microphones that would allow users to issue Siri commands without using the remote or a paired HomePod. The remote may also include a speaker to help users locate it. The report describes this as the Apple TV’s first update in years, although the final feature set has not been confirmed.
Apple Home Collection and LG accessories
Apple is reportedly working with LG on smart home accessories under its Apple Home Collection initiative. Schneider Electric is expected to supply energy-related products for the European market. LG will manufacture and support its accessories, while Apple will influence their features and integration with its ecosystem.
Siri AI and Matter could address earlier limitations
Two developments could help Apple expand its smart home offering: improvements to Siri using AI and broader support for Matter and Thread.
Apple has reportedly been working on new home devices since late 2024, but delays to its revamped Siri have affected the rollout. The updated assistant is expected to improve its ability to understand requests and carry them out, addressing a goal Apple set when it introduced Siri in 2011. However, the report says it is still not expected to match ChatGPT’s capabilities.
Meanwhile, Matter and Thread could make it easier to connect compatible accessories from different manufacturers. This would allow Apple to build on the existing smart home market rather than requiring customers to replace their devices to join its ecosystem.
Apple’s smart home strategy
Apple’s goal is reportedly not to overtake Amazon and Google in every smart home category or generate substantial revenue from accessories such as doorbells and thermostats. Instead, the company wants to make the home a more significant part of its ecosystem, encourage existing customers to buy more Apple devices, and make switching to competing platforms more difficult.
Launch timeline
The company is expected to unveil the new lineup tomorrow, October 13, according to the report. The updated HomePod mini and Apple TV are reportedly scheduled to reach stores on October 30, while HomeView could arrive in mid-November. The LG accessories are not expected to ship until later in 2026 at the earliest.