Apple is quietly preparing to redefine the smart home battlefield. According to trusted sources, including Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman and analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the company is finalizing a 7-inch touchscreen hub—part HomePod, part iPad—that could become the nerve center of your connected life. Slated for late 2025, this device isn’t just another gadget; it’s Apple’s boldest play yet to dominate the living room.
The hub, rumored to feature an A18 chip and 8GB of RAM, will reportedly blend Apple Intelligence smarts with a new widget-driven “homeOS.” Imagine a wall-mountable command station that handles everything from FaceTime calls (via a built-in camera) to real-time security feeds, all while coordinating your HomeKit-enabled appliances. Gurman describes it as a “smaller, cheaper iPad” purpose-built for home automation—complete with a detachable speaker base for tabletop use.
What makes this more than just a Nest Hub rival? Context. Apple’s ecosystem integration could be transformative. Siri might finally become useful beyond setting timers, leveraging on-device AI to predict when you’ll need the AC adjusted or lights dimmed. Kuo adds that supplementary devices—like indoor cameras and even a Face ID doorbell—are in development, suggesting Apple wants to lock down every corner of home automation.
But the real story here is timing. With Google and Amazon already entrenched in smart displays, Apple’s late entry could be a calculated gamble. By waiting until its A18 silicon and Apple Intelligence framework mature, the company might deliver a hub that doesn’t just respond to commands but anticipates needs. Whether it’s branded as “HomePod” or “Apple Home,” this $300-$400 device (my educated guess) could finally make HomeKit relevant—if Apple nails the UX.
Oh, and don’t expect legacy HomePods to gather dust. A HomePod mini refresh is likely en route, while the full-sized model’s future remains unclear. But make no mistake: Apple’s 2025 home hub isn’t just a product launch. It’s a declaration of war.
FAQs
Q: What is Apple’s homeOS?
A: A rumored operating system designed specifically for smart home devices, featuring customizable widgets and deep integration with Siri/Apple Intelligence.
Q: How does the A18 chip enhance the Home Hub?
A: The A18 chip enables advanced AI processing for Apple Intelligence, smoother multitasking, and support for security camera feeds/FaceTime simultaneously.
Q: Will the Apple Home Hub replace existing HomePods?
A: Unlikely. It’s positioned as a complementary hub for home automation, while HomePods focus on audio. A HomePod mini refresh is still expected.
Q: How does Apple Intelligence differ from Siri?
A: Apple Intelligence uses on-device machine learning to proactively manage smart home tasks, whereas Siri primarily reacts to voice commands.
Q: Can the hub work with non-Apple smart devices?
A: Through HomeKit compatibility, yes—but Apple typically prioritizes seamless integration within its own ecosystem.
