Apple’s rumored smart home hub powered by apple intelligence has been a highly anticipated product for quite some time, which was going to come with Apple Intelligence-powered Siri and smart home integration. It will run on HomeOS and provide seamless integration with the Apple ecosystem.
Mark Gurman, a well-known Apple analyst, reported that the launch, initially expected in March 2025, has now been reportedly postponed. Apple needs additional time to develop Siri functionality and deliver customized Siri experiences to users. Apple wants this smart home hub to understand users’ personal context awareness and provide better automation with home appliances.
Apple’s smart home hub faces tough competition from Amazon Echo Show and Google Nest Hub, but Apple wants to set new standards in the market by making it a privacy-first AI assistant. Now the question is, when will this device be launched and how is Apple refining it? Let’s explore its details.
Reasons for Delay
Apple’s rumored smart home hub is still not launching on the expected timeline. The delay is due to several major reasons, including Siri development issues, software challenges, and internal testing delays.
Siri Development Issues
Apple is focused on developing an advanced Siri that will make Apple Intelligence-powered Siri smarter. But due to delayed Siri features, the launch of the project slowed down.
Apple wants Siri’s understanding of a user’s personal context to improve, but this feature has not yet reached the expected level.
Features such as “mother’s flight and lunch reservation” plans are not working smoothly in Siri’s AI system.
Apple is working on a more personalized version of Siri to make users’ daily lives easier, but AI advancements are being delayed.
Software Development Challenges
Apple’s smart home hub will not just be a hardware device, but it will work together with iOS 19 and homeOS. Because of this, software updates have also been working on becoming a major challenge, indicating that it is going to take us longer to resolve these issues.
This device should be compatible with iOS 18.4, iOS 18.5 (May 2025), and iOS 19 (September 2025).
Reports suggest that Apple will launch this device only after refinements of iOS 19.4 (March 2026) and iPadOS 19, indicating that the process is going to take us longer than anticipated.
Apple wants to ensure that this smart home hub integrates seamlessly with home appliances, which is making software development more complex.
Internal Testing Delays
Apple has been doing internal testing for quite some time, so that bugs and performance issues of the device can be fixed beforehand.
Apple has given pre-release versions to select employees for testing.
The employees’ job is to use the device in real-life scenarios and report issues.
According to reports, Apple is taking more time than expected, as this smart home hub has a lot of complex integrations that have also been working on improving performance.
Till now this device was expected in March 2025, but now it may be delayed till Q3 2025 or even post-WWDC 2025. Apple wants that when it is launched, it can become a strong competitor in front of Amazon Echo Show and Google Nest Hub, which has also been working on its own upgrades.
Key Features of Apple’s Smart Home Hub
Apple’s rumored smart home hub is going to be an advanced home automation device that will come with Apple Intelligence and Siri capabilities. This device will run on HomeOS and can be a strong competitor to Amazon Echo Show and Google Nest Hub.
Display and Design
- iPad – like display, which can be a 6- to 7-inch touchscreen.
- It can come with black and silver color options, and its UI will be customizable.
- Its design can be similar to Apple TV OS or it can be based on the concept of a HomePod with a display.
Hardware and Performance
- Powered by Apple’s latest A18 chip and 8GB RAM that will run Apple Intelligence features smoothly.
- There will be a front-facing camera for FaceTime and Zoom video calls.
- With proximity sensors and gesture recognition, touch-free control is also possible.
Software and Siri Capabilities
- This smart hub’s “homeOS” system will be a mix of watchOS and iOS Standby mode.
- With the Siri upgrade, it will support iOS 18.4 and subsequent updates.
- With deep app integration, it will be better able to understand the user’s personal context.
Smart Home Integration
- The smart hub will integrate seamlessly with HomeKit-enabled devices across your apps.
- It will help in controlling lights, doors, security systems, and home appliances.
- An experience similar to the features of Google Nest Hub, but with Apple’s privacy-first approach.
Innovative AI-Powered Features
- Personalized Siri that will seamlessly manage flight and lunch reservation plans.
- Gesture recognition will make touch-free interaction possible.
- AirPlay support is possible and a robotic arm version is also being considered for home automation.
- Launch Timeline
When Has Apple’s Smart Home Hub Been Expected to Launch?
Previous Expected Release Date
- The official announcement was expected to announce this product in March 2025.
- It could be previewed at WWDC 2024, but no confirmation has been received yet.
Updated Timeline
- The launch could happen along with the announcement at Apple Event May 2025 and the iOS 19 release (September 2025).
- There could be a further delay until March 2026, when iOS 19.4 and iPadOS 19 are finalized.
Apple’s Strategy for a Successful Launch
- Apple plans to delay the launch until the personalized Siri and AI-powered features are refined.
- Apple employees are currently testing the pre-release version and providing feedback.
- Apple spokespersons say it could take longer to deliver a flawless experience.
Challenges and Competitive Market
Competition with Other Smart Home Hubs
Apple’s smart home hub will face some tough competition, especially from the Amazon Echo Show and Google’s Nest Hub. Apple’s privacy-first approach, home automation, and Apple intelligence integration could make it unique. But the Nest Hub and Amazon’s smart hubs already have a strong hold in the market, and further enhancing Siri capabilities will be important for Apple.
Software and AI Refinements
Apple is still refining the smart home hub due to delayed Siri capabilities. Apple has begun a revamp of Siri to improve AI performance. Personalized Siri is expected as part of iOS 18.4, which is being improved to understand users’ awareness of your personal context. According to reports, Apple’s rumored smart home hub is still working on Siri upgrade and AI-powered features, which could be further refined by iOS 18.5 in May and iOS 19 in September 2025.
Pricing and Market Positioning
The pricing of Apple’s smart home hub is rumored to be around $1,000, but experts say it could also be working with a version of the device that offers more features. Along with advanced versions, there could also be smaller models that can integrate with home appliances and HomePod. Apple’s focus could also be on a take it home strategy, in which users can easily adapt the device at home, suggesting that it is going to take us longer to fully integrate. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says that Apple will carefully decide the pricing so that the hub will get maximum adoption.
Conclusion
Apple’s smart home hub has reportedly been delayed, but it is going to deliver a next-gen experience with Apple Intelligence and personalized Siri. Amid Siri and AI refinements, Apple’s goal is to launch the more personalized Siri, which is still being tested due to delayed Siri capabilities. According to Bloomberg, Apple plans to select employees to test a pre-release version to ensure a final launch is successful by 2026.
