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Apple is reportedly planning to reveal a new smart home hub on October 13, alongside an updated HomePod mini and Apple TV. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman says the hub will have a 6-inch display and focus on Siri, but Apple has not confirmed the products, date or reported features.
Apple is reportedly set to reveal a new smart home hub on October 13, with a refreshed HomePod mini and an upgraded Apple TV also expected at the event, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. The device would give Apple a new product category for controlling the home and put its overhauled Siri assistant at the center of the company’s smart home plans.
The proposed hub, which has been informally called “HomePad” in coverage of the rumor, is said to have a 6-inch display. Gurman’s reporting, as summarized by The Verge, describes a design for use on a countertop or mounted on a wall. The countertop version reportedly has a round metal base containing speakers and microphones, plus an arm that supports and tilts the screen. A separate wall-mounted version is also said to be in development.
The screen is reportedly about as thick as an iPhone, with bezels resembling older iPad models. The device is said to come in Apple’s standard gray aluminum finish and use USB-C power. According to Gurman’s report, it would not have a battery, so it would need to remain connected to power.
The hub’s software is expected to draw on Siri’s planned AI overhaul and use an interface with some iPad-like elements. Gurman reports that Messages will have a two-panel layout. Other reported functions include smart home controls, video calls, music playback, photo slideshows and intercom-style calls. Voice and facial recognition are also said to help identify users. Apple has not publicly confirmed any of these specifications or features.
A New Center for Apple’s Smart Home
If the report is accurate, the hub would give Apple a dedicated screen for managing connected devices and using Siri at home. That would expand its smart home lineup beyond speakers and set-top boxes, while placing home controls, calls and media in one stationary device. The reported user recognition features could also tailor the experience to different household members, though how they would work has not been confirmed.
The reported timing ties the hub to a wider product update: a new HomePod mini and upgraded Apple TV are expected to appear alongside it. Gurman says all three products are set to showcase the overhauled Siri. That makes the hub’s launch potentially relevant to Apple’s broader effort to put its AI-powered assistant into everyday use, but the report does not establish how much of the new Siri functionality will be ready or available at launch.
The Reported October Product Lineup
The smart home hub has been rumored for some time, but this report adds a specific October 13 reveal date and details about its design and intended uses. The Verge’s account attributes the timing and product information to Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman; it does not cite an Apple announcement confirming the date.
In the reported lineup, the hub would serve as the centerpiece, with the HomePod mini and Apple TV also receiving updates. The report links all three to Apple’s Siri overhaul. Details about the other two products, including their specifications and prices, are not provided in the source material.
“about as thick as an iPhone”
— Mark Gurman, as quoted in The Verge’s report
Apple Has Yet to Confirm the Hub
Apple has not confirmed the October 13 date, the smart home hub, or the reported companion product updates. The “HomePad” name is a rumor label in coverage, not an announced product name. It is also unclear whether all the reported functions, including facial and voice recognition, will be included at launch or how the redesigned Siri will handle them.
The source material provides no pricing, release date, regional availability or full technical specifications. It does not say whether the reported wall-mounted version would be available at the same time as the countertop model. Until Apple makes an announcement, the design and feature details remain attributed reporting rather than confirmed product information.
Watch for Apple’s October Announcement
The next key development is whether Apple announces a product event or otherwise confirms the reported October 13 reveal. If the company presents the hub, its announcement should clarify the official name, price, availability, supported features and how it works with Siri, HomePod mini and Apple TV. Until then, the date and lineup remain based on Gurman’s reporting.
Key Questions
Has Apple confirmed the HomePad?
No. The hub and its reported features have not been confirmed by Apple. “HomePad” is a name used in coverage of the rumor, not a confirmed product name.
When is the smart home hub reportedly being revealed?
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports that Apple plans to reveal it on October 13. Apple has not confirmed that date.
What features are reported for the hub?
The reported device has a 6-inch display and may support smart home controls, video calls, music, photo slideshows and intercom-style calls. Voice and facial recognition are also reported, but none of these details has been confirmed by Apple.
What other products are expected alongside it?
Gurman’s report also points to a new HomePod mini and upgraded Apple TV. The source material does not provide specifications or prices for those devices.
Source: rss
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