Apple’s rumored smart home hub could launch by the end of 2025 instead of sometime in 2026 as originally planned, with a robotic version following in 2026.
Mark Gurman wrote in the latest edition of his Power On newsletter for Bloomberg that he expects an Apple-branded smart home hub to drop by the end of this year at the earliest, but cautioned that the timeframe “remains up in the air.”
The product was supposed to launch in March 2025, but was postponed because it relies on two major iOS 18.4 features that failed to materialize—an AI-infused Siri and enhanced App Intents. That happened because Apple delayed an enhanced Siri, saying it would instead arrive “in the coming year” as its AI push failed.
Apple’s smart home hub could drop by Christmas
This smart home hub robot is rumored to have a 7-inch square display, an integrated camera at the top, and a rechargeable battery.
The device is thought to run homeOS, a new Apple operating system, and provide a StandBy-like dashboard with widgets and the ability to control smart homes, acting as a command center for HomeKit accessories. It would, of course, support FaceTime video calling and run Apple Intelligence.
Gurman reported earlier that Apple set up an internal testing program for select employees to test the product in their homes and provide feedback to it.
What’s the latest on Apple’s AI-powered tabletop robot
A more advanced version with a robotic arm with expressive movements and other perks is expected next year. It would sport an iPad-sized smart home display that can “move around a person’s desk on the end of a robotic arm” with lifelike movements, a FaceTime camera and “a unique AI personality.”
However, Apple might have “pulled some bolder features” that could be added back in future iterations to the device. According to the article, the tabletop robot is a “major priority at Apple,” but will launch a “year or two later.” Gurman previously said the robotic device could ship in 2026 or 2027 and cost around $1,000.
A research paper and an accompanying video recently published on Apple’s Machine Learning Research site may shed some more light on the rumored device. The video depicts an expressive tabletop robot resembling Pixar’s dancing lamp, featuring a Siri-like voice assistant.