Apple is reportedly preparing to launch a new Apple smart-home hub on October 13 as the technology giant expands its presence in the connected-home market. Bloomberg News reported that the company will introduce the device under the codename J490.
The launch is expected to mark Apple’s more significant push into the smart-home sector. The company is also reportedly planning updates to the HomePod mini and Apple TV as part of the upcoming product announcements.
The new Apple smart-home hub is expected to feature a display measuring about six inches square. According to the report, the device could be mounted on a wall or placed on a countertop, giving users different options for using it around the home.
The device is also expected to offer personalized features for household members. It could recognize individual users and provide content and responses based on their personal data and accounts, according to the report. This would connect the hub more closely with Apple’s wider ecosystem.
Apple currently sells the HomePod and HomePod mini for smart-home use, while the Apple TV 4K serves as part of its home entertainment lineup. The new hub would put Apple in closer competition with products such as Amazon’s Echo and Google Home.
The company is also reportedly preparing refreshed versions of the HomePod mini and Apple TV. Their existing designs are expected to remain largely unchanged, while faster processors could support more advanced artificial intelligence features and upgraded Siri capabilities.
Apple did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment on the reported plans. The company has been working to strengthen its artificial intelligence offerings, including a delayed Siri overhaul announced in June, while continuing to build new products around its established device ecosystem.
