Apple Smart Home Hub Launch Possibly Delayed Until Later in Year

[MacRumors]

Apple's long-rumoured smart home hub or "command center" may not arrive in the spring as previously expected, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

We've heard various rumors and reports about Apple developing an all-in-one smart home management hub. The device is said to feature a square-shaped 7-inch display, a FaceTime camera and speakers, and a new homeOS operating system with support for several Apple apps. Rumors suggest users will be able to mount it on a wall, but Apple is also designing a dock that will let it sit on a table or desk.

Apple originally planned to introduce the home hub in March 2025. However, writing in his latest Power On newsletter, Gurman says that the device "may take longer to reach consumers," owing to the operating system's heavy reliance on App Intents features that won't be ready until iOS 18.4 and iOS 19. This in itself means "it's plausible that the hardware itself will ship later," adds Gurman.

Gurman's prediction lines up with a December 2024 report by Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo about a so-called "HomePod with a display" in the works with support for Apple Intelligence. Kuo said the device had been delayed and would arrive in the third quarter of 2025.

At the time of Kuo's report, it wasn't clear if the products being discussed were completely different devices (Gurman himself has said Apple is developing several HomePod variants with screens, including one with an iPad-like display and another featuring a screen mounted on a robotic arm). However, the alignment of the two timeframes are beginning to suggest they are one and the same thing. Like Gurman over the weekend, Kuo had said the delay could be attributed to software development challenges, rather than hardware issues.

As a result, Apple could still unveil the smart home hub with an announcement in March, with the actual hardware arriving later in the year, sometime after WWDC 2025. Apple this spring is also expected to announce a next-generation, entry-level iPad with support for Apple Intelligence, an iPhone SE 4, and new 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air models with M4 chips.

Article Link: Apple Smart Home Hub Launch Possibly Delayed Until Later in Year

 

[tyranne201]

Fix trash Siri before. Thanks.

 

[9081094]

What’s the benefit of this besides doing the same on your iPhone or iPad?

Another OS? Even more bugs to sort out 😅

And indeed Siri is braindead at the moment so the delay makes sense. I hope the reanimated Siri lives up to its promise. But really, after 13+ years, my confidence is low.

 

[Digital Dude]

An Apple product release not on schedule? 😱

 

[Dave245]

Something like the Pixel Tablet would be great, a dock that can play music and Aldo display photos and control the smart home.

 

[AppliedMicro]

What’s the benefit of this besides doing the same on your iPhone or iPad?

Wall-mounting (says the article).
Thread border router capability.

 

[9081094]

Wall-mounting (says the article).
Thread border router capability.

They should make a magnetic wall mount with charger for your iPad or iPhone when at home and not in use and charge it at the same time. Unless this device gives me groundbreaking new possibilities that aren’t available in HomeKit on iPad/iphone I don’t see the use of it. Another device with same possibilities.

But maybe a wonder happens and it’s some breath taking new device. I doubt it 😅

 

[9081094]

Something like the Pixel Tablet would be great, a dock that can play music and Aldo display photos and control the smart home.

Like your iPad is already capable to do?

 

[MAlbi]

seeing the word “hub” reminds me of days when an ipad could do it instead

 

[Dredd67]

This looks so much like a solution in search of a problem.
Home automation won't get anywhere (for non enthusiasts) unless the most basic issues are fixed:

1) interoperability and autonomy, not having to rely on hubs (matter should address this... one day)
2) convenience higher than the use of a simple switch or remote for simple usage (has yet to be proven). To this day, it's simpler and more convenient to just get up, press a button, and be sure it will work 100% of time. Hard to overcome this.

Even with both of the above issues fixed, what's the use of this device ?
Automation would come in mind, like building routines, or even better, suggesting routines based on the sensors (time, presence, light, temperature, etc...).
And for this, there's no better solution right now than Home Assistant (I think).

What could Apple bring to the table besides a walled garden approach that would defeat the purpose of issue #1 ?
The only way this would work is if Apple could either come up with a whole range of products (not gonna happen) or understand their homekit standard is not attractive for other brands.

With Apple's DNA and track record this last decade, I can't think of any way this product could work.

Like with gaming, vision pro, carplay 2, etc... it seems Apple is fooling themselves. Something has to change at Cupertino. There are only managers left there, no captain to stear the ship. It's sad, because there are talents in there, but they are muffled.

 

[goobot]

I can only hope it leads to improvements with HomeKit

 

[9081094]

I can only hope it leads to improvements with HomeKit

As long as Siri is braindead it’s dead on arrival.

 

[9081094]

As you think about it… whatever Apple introduces it all comes down to one key element. If that is not working excellent in every way, it’s useless. That key element is Siri. In its current state it’s total useless (especially in non English languages).

Apple had the opportunity to rebuild Siri for 13+ years now, but it still doesn’t live up to the capabilities in the commercials Apple thrown at us 13 years ago with the iPhone 4S.

Maybe Apple should pour in a billion to improve Siri and make those improvements available to all languages simultaneously instead of pleasing and paying shareholders.

Hey Siri, close all doors…

Siri: okay, I’ve opened the closed door

 

[Big_D]

Home automation won't get anywhere (for non enthusiasts) unless the most basic issues are fixed:

The biggest one for me is that it has to work without any additional electronics in the house!

My wife already threatened to throw the HomePod mini out the window, because Siri started talking to her! She won't use the Home app on her iPhone and iPad to switch the lights on and off - that is what the light switch is for - I even bought an extra Philips Hue light switch for the bedroom, that is directly in front of her, when she walks in, but she still reaches along the wall to the "real" light switch every time (rented apartment, so I can't swap out the switches).

I can't use the remote app on my iPhone or iPad, because that is too confusing (the same was true when the TV came with 2 remotes, one had to be packed away in a drawer as a backup).

The only one that hasn't caused a problem was me using a programmable power socket to control the Christmas tree lights - this has now been transferred to a lamp in the hall that turns on in the evenings and early morning.

 

[HiFifreak]

I am so happy you mention the name "Gurman" 60 times a day.
That save's me a LOT of reading! Everytime you start with "Gurman said", im gone.

 

[9081094]

The biggest one for me is that it has to work without any additional electronics in the house!

My wife already threatened to throw the HomePod mini out the window, because Siri started talking to her! She won't use the Home app on her iPhone and iPad to switch the lights on and off - that is what the light switch is for - I even bought an extra Philips Hue light switch for the bedroom, that is directly in front of her, when she walks in, but she still reaches along the wall to the "real" light switch every time (rented apartment, so I can't swap out the switches).

I can't use the remote app on my iPhone or iPad, because that is too confusing (the same was true when the TV came with 2 remotes, one had to be packed away in a drawer as a backup).

The only one that hasn't caused a problem was me using a programmable power socket to control the Christmas tree lights - this has now been transferred to a lamp in the hall that turns on in the evenings and early morning.

Lol, no extra homehub for you I understand 😂

 

[Dave245]

Like your iPad is already capable to do?

Since when was the iPad a photo frame?

 

[stocklen]

here we go again .. its 'guess along with Gurman' time.

Who said 'March this year' a product was due to be released? based on what?

Anyone remember when Apple were supposed to be making their own brand TVs? That rumour wouldn't die and they were always coming next month.... until it became the far more sensible revamped AppleTV set top box.

Is there really a 'control centre' coming? If it does it does and in Apple's timeframe not Gurmans.

 

[AnTaR3s]

Please delay this until Siri is fixed (or forever)! With such trash Apple just turns into Amazon

 

[9081094]

Since when was the iPad a photo frame?

Well, you could play slideshows of your photo’s. But you’re right, it isn’t photoframe.

 

[Dave245]

Well, you could play slideshows of your photo’s. But you’re right, it isn’t photoframe.

I get what you are saying, but it isn't the same as a Home Hub device. iPad's are great (I love my iPad Pro) but they are different beats altogether.

 

[9081094]

I get what you are saying, but it isn't the same as a Home Hub device. iPad's are great (I love my iPad Pro) but they are different beats altogether.

So if a homehub will be introduced with photoframe capability, the screen doesn’t have to be as costly as an iPad. However, while maybe cheaper, it’s also a device extra and I don’t see the added value of it.

 

[McWetty]

I’d prefer something that can replace my garbage Echo Show 15… iPad with kiosk software isn’t really cutting it.

 

[Morod]

Maybe just delay it until you find a better name than Command Center.

 

[Fyrus]

Lol, that mock up looks like an IKEA mirror: https://www.ikea.com/nl/nl/p/tysnes-toiletspiegel-10182189/