Apple is said to be working on a new Home accessory that will act as a hub for smart home devices. Although the Apple TV and HomePod are already capable of being home hubs, this upcoming product will be an all-in-one solution to make smart home control even more intuitive and streamlined.
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Apple’s Smart Home Command Center: Key Details and Features Revealed
The new device will likely take the form of a square, all-screen plate with its thick bezels like an iPad. It will be compact, measuring six inches, and lightweight for easy portability between rooms. The smart home features will be directly controllable via touch input. You can then mount it on a wall or use an included dock to place it on a desk, that may also have external speakers built in to play music. It will feature a camera for FaceTime and video calls, and the product is expected to be available in silver and black.
The smart home hub could use its sensors to see when something is close by and change its interface based on who is there. It could show the temperature when no one is close but then turn into thermostat controls, as someone gets closer. It could also be used to detect hand gestures and identify users, so automation like turning on lights once someone enters a room is possible too.
It will pack an A18 chip with 8GB of RAM whilst supporting Apple Intelligence for advanced capabilities. Although it won’t have a dedicated App Store, pre-installed apps will include Safari, News, Music, Notes, Calendar, Photos, and Home. Siri will also be integrated for voice commands and app control.
Apple is considering expanding its smart home ecosystem with additional products, like an indoor security camera, which could launch in 2026. The smart home hub could compete with similar devices from Amazon, Google, and Facebook, offering an alternative to Apple’s focus on privacy. Expected to launch in early 2025, Apple’s smart home accessory could be priced competitively with products like Amazon’s Echo Show, which currently starts at $90.
