Apple is reportedly set to announce its new smart home device on 13 October, alongside a refreshed HomePod mini and an updated Apple TV. According to Mark Gurman, the smart home hub, featuring a display of approximately 6 inches, will be capable of being wall-mounted or used on a countertop. With a design reminiscent of the iMac G4, the device will be powered via USB-C and will not have a built-in battery. The Siri AI-focused system will support smart home control, video calls, music, photo slideshows and intercom calls.
Why it matters
This development suggests that Apple could shape its approach to the smart home around combining home control, communication and media functions in a single hub. While the device’s ability to be placed either on a wall or on a countertop affects its range of uses and placement preferences within the home, the lack of a built-in battery makes positioning dependent on access to a power connection. The Siri AI-focused design indicates that the experience will depend less on the hardware than on how successfully the voice assistant performs tasks; however, it remains unclear how this will translate into everyday use. Since the information is based on leaks from Mark Gurman, the announcement date and features cannot be considered final; pricing, availability and how the products will be positioned together also remain open questions.
Background
Apple is not a new name in the FikirPilot archive: we have published 73 news articles mentioning this name in the last 90 days; the latest is dated 29 September 2026.