The new device is said to be like an iPad and a HomePod all-in-one
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Apple’s long-rumored smart home display finally looks set to hit officialdom… but not until spring 2026.
That’s the word according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, who first reported on Apple’s smart home revolution plans last year.
Gurman has stated that the new smart display will land with a $350 price tag, planting it firmly in premium territory; Amazon recently took the covers off the 4th-gen Show 8 and the Show 11, priced at $180 and $220 respectively.
His report claims Apple’s contender will feature a 7-inch display and will act as a central hub for controlling connected devices, managing calls and running home automations powered by a next-generation Siri.
Two versions are reportedly in the works: a tabletop model that looks like a HomePod mini with a screen, and a wall-mounted version designed to serve as a more permanent control center.
Both are said to include a FaceTime camera and adaptive interface that recognizes who’s nearby.
Development delays, reportedly tied to Apple’s AI overhaul and the rollout of the new Siri, are said to be the reason the launch has been pushed to spring 2026.
Unlike previous Apple products, the new smart home devices are apparently being assembled in Vietnam, but Apple hasn’t abandoned China as the report claims it is partnering with BYD, better known for its electric cars, to handle production of both the home hub and a tabletop robot that is expected to follow in 2027.
The robot – essentially a motorized smart display that can pivot and track your movements – is said to be still be early in development.
It’s been reported in the past that it looks like an iPad on a motorized arm, able to swivel, follow you around a room, and insert itself into conversations with a new lifelike Siri.
If that seems a bit far-fetched, don’t forget that Apple published research earlier this year of ELEGNT; a tabletop robot that looked like the Pixar logo, with a lamp on the end of the arm.
Apple’s also said to be working on a new indoor security camera (code-named J450), planned for release by the end of 2026.
It’s expected to integrate tightly with HomeKit Secure Video and Apple Intelligence for smarter motion alerts and privacy-first storage.
