Apple Home Hub: New evidence of a rotating robot base

Apple is apparently preparing the next step in the smart home sector. New information suggests that the planned Home Hub will be more than just a stationary control center. A key, previously little-known detail is a robot-controlled rotating base that could give the device an active role in the room. This places artificial intelligence and physical interaction more firmly in the foreground for Apple.

Apple's Home Hub has been the subject of speculation for months. Originally, a market launch in 2025 was mentioned. It's striking that recent reports have focused not only on software and AI, but increasingly on the device's mechanical and functional design. This is precisely where the new rumor about a movable, robot-controlled base comes in.

New detail: robot-controlled rotating base

According to Wayne Ma of The Information, Apple is working on a home product with a small display, integrated speakers, and a robot-controlled rotating base. Ma mentioned this detail in an article about Apple's work on an AI pinball machine. According to Ma, the Home Hub's focus is clearly on AI features.

Two people familiar with the project believe that the device could be launched as early as spring.

Previous rumors and known versions

The Home Hub has been a topic of discussion for some time, as it was originally slated for release in 2025. However, until now, no one had mentioned the possibility of the device having a movable or robot-controlled base.

Mark Gurman of Bloomberg previously reported that Apple is developing two versions of the Home Hub. One version is designed to be wall-mounted, while the other will stand on a speaker base, similar to the HomePod mini. This latter version would be intended for use on desks or kitchen countertops.

None of these previous descriptions suggested that the base could rotate or actively move.

Parallels to Apple's table robot

The new description strongly resembles another Apple project that Gurman also mentioned. This project is a tabletop robot, expected to be released no earlier than 2027, and is considered a kind of successor to the Home Hub.

This tabletop robot is said to feature an iPad-like display attached to a thin robotic arm. The display can be tilted up and down and rotated 360 degrees. Furthermore, the device is supposed to be able to reposition itself autonomously to face the person speaking. In this context, it is also referred to as having a "visual personality.".

Against this background, the robot-controlled rotating base of the Home Hub seems like an early step in this direction.

Sensors and orientation in space

Wayne Ma didn't elaborate on exactly how the rotating base works or what specific purpose it serves. However, it's reasonable to assume that the Home Hub automatically orients itself towards the person in the room. The device is said to have several sensors that can detect whether someone is present.

This capability would allow the Home Hub to be more visually and functionally present without requiring active user intervention.

Connection to Siri and software update

It is expected that the Home Hub will be introduced alongside the release of iOS 26.4. This update is expected to include a significantly revamped version of Siri, in which AI functions play a more prominent role. The Home Hub would then serve as a central device to make this new generation of Siri visible and usable in everyday life.

A new approach to Apple's smart home strategy

The planned Home Hub demonstrates that Apple not only wants to expand the smart home sector but also reimagine it. The robot-controlled rotating base clearly distinguishes the device from previous solutions and suggests a closer integration of hardware, sensors, and AI. Should the market launch actually take place in the spring, the Home Hub could lay the foundation for a new class of devices, which will later be further developed with significantly more advanced robotics concepts. (Image: Shutterstock / effjott.art)