Apple has been working on a smart home hub with a display for years, and the hardware is considered ready. Internally codenamed HomePad, the device combines a HomePod speaker with a square touchscreen and recognizes who is standing in front of it. Since the launch of Siri AI, the last obstacle has been removed – the latest report now indicates an earlier release date of October.
Apple has long been a spectator in the smart home market, while Amazon and Google set the pace with displays, cameras, and hub devices. Its own home ecosystem was limited to the HomePod, HomePod mini, and Apple TV as control centers. With the HomePad, that changes. The desktop model is being developed internally under the codename J490, the wall-mounted model under J491; both identifiers appeared in a system version this summer, along with other unreleased devices – as had parts of the user interface in the code before. The hardware has reportedly been ready for months; the launch was only delayed by waiting for the completely revamped Assistant. Apple is now extensively testing the device in the homes of its employees.
Key Facts at a Glance
| Detail | Expectation |
|---|---|
| Product | Smart home hub with square display |
| Code names | J490 (tabletop model), J491 (wall-mounted model) |
| Chip | A18 |
| Display | square, measurements vary between six and seven inches |
| Camera | Front camera with person detection, without the depth sensor of Face ID |
| Design | Table model with hemispherical base and wall mounting via magnetic system |
| Software | proprietary system built around Siri AI, interface with elements from iOS, tvOS and watchOS |
| Requirement | iPhone for setup and for individual connected functions |
| Market launch | Earliest start date: October 2026; a start in early 2027 remains possible. |
| Price | Estimated price around US$350, European price open. |
Two designs: table and wall
Apple is developing the HomePad in two versions. The desktop model places the display on a hemispherical base with a speaker, visually reminiscent of the HomePod mini – intended for the kitchen, bedroom or desk, anywhere quick information and music control are needed.
The wall-mounted model uses a new magnetic system and becomes the central smart home panel on the wall. A prototype with quick-mounting and integrated doorbell has already been described. Both versions share the same compact, square display.
The size is disputed. For months, it was reported to be seven inches, roughly the size of two iPhones side by side. The latest information mentions six or seven inches and describes the screen as smaller than many comparable devices from Amazon. The exact size remains unclear.
Chip and software
According to leaked Apple code, the HomePad uses the A18 chip, the same processor as in the iPhone 16. This would make the device powerful enough for Siri AI with natural conversational capabilities.
The software used is a standalone system built by Apple around Siri AI. The interface blends elements from iOS, tvOS, and watchOS: a home screen with icons, widgets, and selectable watch faces modeled after the Apple Watch. The appeal of this design lies in the fact that information remains visible even when no one is actively using the device.
Siri AI will allow users to search content across their Apple devices and accounts – a previously shared song or podcast, a specific photo – and trigger actions within apps. References to the ChatKit framework in the code suggest that the HomePad could support messaging, a feature currently missing on Apple TV and HomePod.
What is the name of the system?
There is no official name. The term "homeOS" is circulating, based on trademark applications from a shell company believed to be affiliated with Apple. However, the situation is less clear than reports suggest: the trademark is registered in Liechtenstein, while the US application from April 2025 has been suspended by the trademark office since March 13, 2026, after the office raised objections. No new applications have been filed since then. Until Apple itself announces a name, the designation remains an assumption.
Camera and person detection
The built-in front camera goes beyond video calls. It's designed to recognize who is looking at the display, determine their distance, and adjust the interface accordingly in real time. The size and type of information displayed change depending on who is standing in front of it and how close they are – including personal calendars, notes, favorite media, and individual messages.
One detail has changed compared to previous reports. For months, the information referred to Face ID. The latest report, however, explicitly describes the recognition process without the depth sensor used by Face ID on iPhones and iPads. This is a technical difference with practical consequences: Recognition based solely on the camera image is less secure against forgery than recognition with depth measurement, but it is sufficient for distinguishing household members and adjusting the display accordingly. It would be a weaker basis for authorizing payments or sensitive data.
This would make it the first Apple screen to actively identify its user and adjust the display accordingly. Face ID on iPhones and iPads only unlocks a device assigned to a single person; a living room device that distinguishes between multiple household members follows a different logic – and raises the question of where the biometric data is processed. The fact that Apple has internally developed an app to measure recognition accuracy underscores the importance of this feature.
The HomePad as the central hub for the smart home
The HomePad is positioned as the central hub for the entire Apple Home ecosystem. HomeKit and Matter devices can be controlled directly via the display, Thread support enables communication with compatible devices without an additional hub, and Siri AI handles voice control for lights, thermostats, locks, and cameras.
The device is designed to work closely with the planned Apple Security Camera for indoor use. The smart home push also includes the new HomePods and the redesigned Apple TV.
What the HomePad can – and can't – do
In addition to smart home control, the HomePad should be able to play music and videos, offer FaceTime video calls and intercom functions, display weather, calendar and reminders, display photos as a digital picture frame, and manage notes and timers.
What's deliberately missing: a fully-fledged App Store. Apple focuses on curated features instead of an open platform, thus clearly concentrating the device on smart home technology, communication, and quick access to information.
A new requirement in the description is that an iPhone will be needed for setup and for certain connected functions. This means the device would not be a standalone entry point into the Apple ecosystem, but rather an extension for households that already own iPhones.
When the HomePad is expected to be released
Originally, the HomePad was planned for early 2025, then slipped to spring 2026 and finally to the second half of the year – each time due to delays surrounding the AI-supported assistance.
This hurdle has been cleared. Siri AI was released with iOS 27 on September 14th. Consequently, the timeframe has narrowed: In August, it was still said that the device was on track for release by the end of the year, but the report from September 20th now mentions October at the earliest. A launch only in early 2027 is therefore still possible.
| Time | Expected start |
|---|---|
| Original plan | Early 2025 |
| Interim status | Spring 2026 |
| Summer 2026 | second half of 2026 |
| August 2026 | before the end of 2026 |
| September 2026 | Earliest date: October 2026 |
The launch will likely take place not so much as a keynote address, but rather at an October event focused on the Mac. A simple press release would be an unusual setting for a completely new product category. The HomePad would be one of the first major new products to be released under John Ternus as CEO.
What the timing reveals about Apple's plan
At the keynote in September, Ternus described the ideal device for everyday life with AI – and then named the iPhone. According to the report, the Home devices are intended to replicate this pattern at home: The iPhone remains the central hub on the go, while the HomePad, Apple TV, and HomePod form the equivalent for the home.
We therefore expect Apple not to introduce the HomePad as a completely new, standalone device category, but rather to position it as a complementary product – the requirement of an iPhone for setup fits this picture. For households without Apple devices, this would effectively preclude them from using the HomePad from the outset.
How much the HomePad will cost
Initial estimates suggest a price of around $350. However, the obvious conversion to approximately €399 is misleading: During the June price increase, the Apple TV 4K rose from $129 to $199 in the US, but from €169 to €229 in Germany. The price increases vary by market, so a euro price cannot be derived from the dollar estimate.
In terms of price, Apple would position the HomePad significantly below an iPad and as a standalone smart home device rather than a tablet replacement. Compared to similar smart displays from Amazon and Google, which are usually considerably cheaper, Apple's HomePad is priced higher – but in return offers deep integration into its own ecosystem.
Siri AI in German-speaking countries
For the German-speaking market, two things matter, and the more important one is not regulation.
Language comes first. Siri AI initially launched in English. Apple has announced five more languages for October – French, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, and Spanish. German is not among them and is not included in the current test version. A device whose operating concept relies heavily on voice loses a significant portion of its appeal as long as German is missing.
The regulatory situation is different than for iPhones and iPads. The Digital Markets Act doesn't name specific products, but rather core platform services: For Apple, these have been the App Store, iOS, and Safari since September 2023, and iPadOS since April 2024. The HomePad's operating system isn't on any of these lists. Consequently, the device doesn't provide an overview of the features that are missing in this country.
One limitation is still conceivable, and it depends on the new setup requirements. Apple explicitly justifies the delay of Siri AI on the Apple Watch by citing its reliance on the paired iPhone, not on watchOS itself. The same argument applies if the HomePad requires an iPhone. We expect Apple to answer this question only at launch. Switzerland, in any case, is neither in the EU nor the EEA and is therefore unaffected by any of this.
Outlook: the robot hub
Besides the HomePad, Apple is reportedly working on a more ambitious version: a larger display on a movable arm that can follow the user around the room. The latest report mentions a nine-inch display and describes the device as a higher-end version. Internally, it's codenamed J595.
No timeframe is given; older reports place the launch in 2027 or 2028. The concept is considered risky and is said to be in an early testing phase.
Who is the HomePad intended for?
The HomePad is aimed at anyone who wants to control their home centrally without constantly having to reach for their iPhone or iPad. It doesn't replace either device, but rather expands the ecosystem with a fixed hub in the home. It's particularly interesting for households with multiple Apple users: thanks to person recognition, each family member receives their own content without having to log in.
If you want to keep your smart home entirely within the Apple ecosystem, the HomePad, along with the new HomePods and the Security Camera, could become the heart of a connected home. However, you'll need to be patient with the timeline, and those who need voice control in German will have to wait even longer than for the device itself.
Would you put such a device in your living room as long as the voice control only works in English – or would you wait until German is added? Let us know your prediction in the comments.
