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Apple's 2026 Smart Home Lineup: New Apple TV, HomePod, and Home Hub

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Now that Siri AI is ready to launch in iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27 Golden Gate, Apple can finally introduce new smart home products built to work with the smarter version of Siri.


Apple has multiple new home devices in development, several of which are rumored to launch before the end of the year. We're waiting on a new version of the Apple TV 4K, a smart home hub, a new HomePod, and a new HomePod mini.

Home Hub

Similar to an iPad in design, but with a 7-inch square display. There will be a wall mount option or a speaker base option. The speaker base has a hemispherical dome, similar to the base of the iMac G4. The device will have a built-in camera for video calls, facial recognition, and presence detection. It'll run apps like Safari, Calendar, Photos, and Home, and it will integrate with Siri AI. Rumors suggest it could be priced around $350.

Apple TV 4K

The next Apple TV 4K will have the same form factor as the current model, but it's expected to have an A17 Pro chip or better that supports Apple Intelligence and Siri AI. There are no Apple Intelligence features on the Apple TV right now, so a more powerful chip will bring quite a few changes. It could also get more RAM and Apple's N1 networking chip for Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread.

HomePods

Apple is expected to refresh both the HomePod and the HomePod mini, but we're not expecting new form factors.

The speakers will get new chips that are faster and could support Siri AI via the iPhone like the Apple Watch. A faster processor could bring improvements in sound quality, and an upgraded Ultra Wideband chip could bring connectivity improvements and new features.

The HomePod mini is expected to get new colors.

Cameras

Apple is designing its own security camera, and it could launch as soon as this year. HomeKit Secure Video cameras are getting several upgrades in iOS 27, including 4K video recording, AI summaries, and the option to stitch video from different cameras together for tracking a single event across rooms.

All of these features would be ideal for an Apple-created camera, so it's not hard to imagine the update is meant for Apple hardware. A 2026 launch isn't a sure thing for the camera, and it could come at a later time.

The Apple Intelligence Home app features require an Apple TV or HomePod to serve as a hub, and Apple's upcoming home hub will likely also serve as a hub for accessories like cameras.

Launch Timing

With so many home devices planned for the end of the year, we could get them alongside the new iPhone models at Apple's September event, or Apple could do a second home-centric event around the October timeframe. Apple often holds two fall events. The second event is typically for iPads or Macs, but there's no reason it couldn't be home products this year.

So far, we haven't heard concrete rumors on when Apple will debut its smart home devices, but as we get closer to fall, we should hear more.

Article Link: Apple's 2026 Smart Home Lineup: New Apple TV, HomePod, and Home Hub
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2026/07/15/apple-smart-home-lineup-rumors/
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"The speakers will get new chips that are faster and could support Siri AI via the iPhone like the Apple Watch. A faster processor could bring improvements in sound quality"

Always prefer better hardware speaker / driver instead of more software sound tweaks tbh – same thing with the AirPods Max 2
 
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I'm skeptical Apple is going to launch security cameras. Everyone who wants cameras has them and people who have invested in a brand like Eufy/UniFi aren't going to dump their system to buy Apple cameras. The market is already flooded with cameras and it doesn't really fit into their current product ecosystem.
 
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The problem with Apple’s AI strategy is that It doesn’t leave the consumer much choice. Yes, I know I can “turn it off”, but no one really knows FULLY what that means.

Maybe I don’t want AI integration into all of my devices.

This sentiment can come off as a “fear of the future” or a “fear of change”…it’s not that. It IS fear of malicious intrusion and perverse incentives. Now more than ever, CE companies come off as predatory MORE THAN personal electronics manufacturers.

The game has changed.

Not a fun predicament…
 
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MiamiFL said:
I'm skeptical Apple is going to launch security cameras. Everyone who wants cameras has them and people who have invested in a brand like Eufy/UniFi aren't going to dump their system to buy Apple cameras. The market is already flooded with cameras and it doesn't really fit into their current product ecosystem.
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I do not agree at all. Speaking as someone who just helped my parents purchase a new security camera system literally last month, it is an absolute mess out there.

There are some cameras that are completely home compatible through and through, you have others that are somewhat home compatible but still require either an app download or a subscription service, you have some that require some type of plug-in or additional tweaking to become home compatible, and of course there are those that are not home kit compatible at all.
And then on top of all of this, you have the massive company which is ring, which has tons of name recognition but is a privacy disaster.

There is absolutely room for Apple to come in and do what they did with AirPods back in 2016, create a product that is just dead simple to use, dead simple to set up, and dead simple to understand.
 
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Real artists ship.

Several of my competitor based smart devices are in need of replacement this year. If Apple can actually deliver something this year, then I'm ready to buy, but if it's delayed any longer, I won't give them another chance for a few more years at least. These devices aren't replaced every couple of years like a phone, especially when I have a whole house set up. It's time they put up or shut up if they want my money.
 
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I am intrigued to find out what this Home Hub will be. Tempted by it IF it works off line too for when the internet drops out.

As for the cameras... well before I jump right on in the deep end... I will see what they are like, I have a Dufy system and I get utterly fed up with it telling me I am in the garden every time I go into the garden.. with it's supposed Ai system meant to cypher that out.. I invariably just turn the camera off if I sit in the garden like now with the nice weather....
Although...... I will try with the Eufy system set to Apples Home Kit integration rather the it's own app after the next update to iOS...
 
rchaser said:
The problem with Apple’s AI strategy is that It doesn’t leave the consumer much choice. Yes, I know I can “turn it off”, but no one really knows FULLY what that means.

Maybe I don’t want AI integration into all of my devices.

This sentiment can come off as a “fear of the future” or a “fear of change”…it’s not that. It IS fear of malicious intrusion and perverse incentives. Now more than ever, CE companies come off as predatory MORE THAN personal electronics manufacturers.

The game has changed.

Not a fun predicament…
Click to expand...
I agree. I hear Apple AI thrown around so much anymore. But what does it actually do? "supports Apple AI" oh cool great, that means absolutely nothing to me right now. Why do I need to make sure the all this new hardware supports a service I dont use or know much about? How much more is my phone spying on me now? A hammer in search of a nail. I'm glad to see the camera rumor on the new Apple TV is gone. Just more spyware
 
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So what I want to know is how much RAM the HomePod mini is getting to support Siri AI? Is it smaller than 8GB? Like just some basic model that allows it to pre-process things for Private Cloud Compute? Is it going to hand-off to a "Home Pad" or a "Apple TV" in the same house for processing -- or maybe use your iPhone?

I just don't see how we don't get to Siri AI without 8GB of RAM minimum or 12GB for the better LLM model. Every other device Apple has made that supports Siri AI has at least 8GB of RAM. But I don't see how HomePod mini stays at an acceptable price point with 8GB of RAM.

For reference, the current S5 in the HomePod mini has 1GB of RAM. The S9, S10 and S11 chips ALSO feature just 1GB of RAM.
 
Lounge vibes 05 said:
I do not agree at all. Speaking as someone who just helped my parents purchase a new security camera system literally last month, it is an absolute mess out there.

There are some cameras that are completely home compatible through and through, you have others that are somewhat home compatible but still require either an app download or a subscription service, you have some that require some type of plug-in or additional tweaking to become home compatible, and of course there are those that are not home kit compatible at all.
And then on top of all of this, you have the massive company which is ring, which has tons of name recognition but is a privacy disaster.

There is absolutely room for Apple to come in and do what they did with AirPods back in 2016, create a product that is just dead simple to use, dead simple to set up, and dead simple to understand.
Click to expand...
Agreed. I would very much like a security camera that:

- is usable without a subscription, or at least works with my existing iCloud sub
- doesn't come from some shady foreign company doing anyone knows what with the data
- plugs right in and works with my existing tech

While I haven't been delighted lately with either Apple's software quality or its leadership, I still would trust a camera from them more than the existing options, and I wouldn't have a problem paying more for it, either. I'd take a reliable $99 Apple camera over a dodgy $25 one from some Amazon company any day.
 
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MiamiFL said:
I'm skeptical Apple is going to launch security cameras. Everyone who wants cameras has them and people who have invested in a brand like Eufy/UniFi aren't going to dump their system to buy Apple cameras. The market is already flooded with cameras and it doesn't really fit into their current product ecosystem.
Click to expand...
The difference is security cameras that are HomeKit certified. Those represent less than 5% of that market.
 
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nt5672 said:
I've had a smart home for a couple of decades, but everything now is made for surveillance. Everything phones home with no control for the user. No chance I'll adopt any new smart devices unless they operate locally.

That means no Apple smart home devices.
Click to expand...
I have Eufy All on my own network and stored locally
Not on the cloud
 
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Super excited for a new faster ATV, not so excited about the new price, so I won’t be replacing all 6. Interested in the home hub and HomePods large and small.
 
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