Apple could soon take on Google and Amazon in smart home

After years of limiting its smart-home ambitions to the HomePod mini and Apple TV, Apple is reportedly preparing a much broader hardware development. 

A new report from 9to5Mac outlines a roadmap spanning refreshed existing products, a brand-new display hub, and Apple's first dedicated security devices.

The first batch of products will reportedly comprise newer iterations of the HomePod mini and Apple TV 4K, which are predicted to arrive later this fall. 

HomePod mini is speculated to migrate to the S9 chip of Apple from its S5 chip, along with an improvement in wireless connectivity and a range of colours. As for Apple TV 4K, there is a prediction of an upgrade from the A15 Bionic chip to the A17 Pro, which would enable it to run some Apple Intelligence features.

Both of these products are anticipated to remain at the same prices as before, $129 for HomePod mini and $199 for Apple TV 4K.

The other product that is even more important is the creation of a new smart home hub that is internally referred to as HomePad. Two different models are reportedly being considered, including one with the design of a mounted screen and another similar to Google’s Nest Hub, all powered by a new homeOS.

The smart hub is reported to feature a 7-inch square screen, an A18 chip, FaceTime calling capabilities, smart home capabilities, and Siri AI, coming out sometime from October through early 2027.

Beyond HomePad, Apple is reportedly developing its first security camera and smart doorbell, marking its first entry into a category long dominated by Amazon and Google.

A full-size HomePod refresh is also in development, though without a confirmed release date. Further out, Macworld and other outlets have reported on plans for a premium, larger 9-inch display hub mounted on a robotic arm, effectively giving the smart-home lineup a mobile, tabletop-robot variant.