Apple's Rumored Smart Home Hub Still 'Months Away' From Shipping

[MacRumors]

If you have been waiting for Apple's rumored smart home hub to launch, prepare to wait some more. In his Power On newsletter over the weekend, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said the device is still "months away" from shipping.

A made-up concept of an Apple smart home hub​

Based on that wording, the home hub will not ship until April at the earliest, but potentially not until much later in the year. Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said the device would enter mass production in the second half of 2025, so it is quite possible the home hub will be announced in September or later.

Gurman previously said the home hub will be "Apple's most significant release of the year," as it represents the company's "first step toward a bigger role in the smart home." He said the device will be like a "smaller and cheaper iPad" that lets users "control appliances, conduct FaceTime chats, and handle other tasks."

The device is expected to be similar to a HomePod with a screen, with rumored features including a 6-inch or 7-inch display, an A18 chip, and Apple Intelligence support. Gurman said it can be attached to a tabletop base with a speaker, or mounted on a wall.

The home hub will run a new "homeOS" operating system with a customizable widget-focused home screen, and revolve around Siri, Apple Intelligence, and HomeKit, according to Gurman. The device could double as a home security system by displaying camera footage, and a built-in camera would allow for FaceTime video calls.

Apple's hub would compete with products like Google's Nest Hub and Amazon's Echo Show. It is unclear if Apple will use HomePod or HomePad branding for the device, or if it will opt for a fully unique name, such as the Apple Home.



Article Link: Apple's Rumored Smart Home Hub Still 'Months Away' From Shipping

 

[turbineseaplane]

🫤

I'm sort of interested in this, but by the time they release it and with how they'll price it or restrict it or "something", I'll probably be uninterested by the time it's even a thing

It's amazing how little they can execute on at a high level any more

 

[cocky jeremy]

I can't believe Apple hasn't already gone all in on this by now. Cameras, motion sensors, robot vacuums, door bells, thermostats, etc.

 

[jz0309]

Gurman previously said the home hub will be "Apple's most significant release of the year," as it represents the company's "first step toward a bigger role in the smart home.

well, if that is true ... I need to be convinced by Apple that I need something like this, have zero home automation "stuff" and not interested in that, so, wow me.

 

[citysnaps]

I'm really looking forward to its release.

I currently have home automation and security video cameras ruining on a Mac Mini 24/7, using a home automation app that is becoming tedious to use. Apple will no doubt provide a much better and easier to set up and update solution.

 

[McTool]

MacGurman.
The reason I don’t visit the site as quite as often these days.

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

Just like the original HomePod, wouldn’t it make sense to announce this thing at WWDC then release it during the holiday season?
Unlike the original HomePod, it sounds like this thing will need some type of third-party integrations, even if they aren’t full applications.
The app functions and shortcuts with Siri, widgets, etc.
Plus the fact that this thing is supposed to run on an entirely new operating system called homeOS…
That’s my prediction.
WWDC: announcement of HomePad and homeOS.
July/August: release homeOS SDK to developers.
September/October: hold an event where you give a quick refresher on the HomePad, plus announcements for the new A18 based regular HomePod, HomePod mini and Apple TV to go with it.

 

[BMox81]

My Nest Hubs live to fight another day!

 

[MacAttack2024]

Literally why when you can do all these tasks from an iPad without having to get up and go sit in front of this device.

 

[Apple Knowledge Navigator]

Sounds like an iPad Nano running the Home app.

Which is to say it’s DOA unless Apple makes some miraculous in roads into smart home.

 

[PsykX]

I'm curious to see if it's a solution to a problem or a solution looking for a problem.
I'm far from convinced by the idea

 

[spb3]

Finally an ergonomic mouse from Apple!

 

[PsykX]

I can't believe Apple hasn't already gone all in on this by now. Cameras, motion sensors, robot vacuums, door bells, thermostats, etc.

Yes, that would be a much better move.
There's some good devices on the market, but then they charge insane subscription costs, and if you want the "best" devices, then you'll need to install an app per product and it becomes un-manageable.

At least now we have Matter, but it takes such a long time to deploy.
The entire home automation market still hasn't figured it out.

 

[klasma]

Finally an ergonomic mouse from Apple!

When I saw that picture for the first time, it took me a few moments to identify which of the objects was supposed to be the home hub.

 

[mcfrazieriv]

I can predict the future:
"Apple cancels Rumored Smart Home Hub" while at the same time announcing that "Apple spent billions on research and development of Rumored Smart Home Hub."

 

[turbineseaplane]

At least now we have Matter, but it takes such a long time to deploy.

That's been the saving grace

I've bought a few lightbulbs and plugs lately, and Matter support is mandatory for me to purchase at this point

 

[goobot]

🫤

I'm sort of interested in this, but by the time they release it and with how they'll price it or restrict it or "something", I'll probably be uninterested by the time it's even a thing

It's amazing how little they can execute on at a high level any more

I just hope it means they’ll do more for HomeKit and the home app

 

[Falco McGregor]

Just like the original HomePod, wouldn’t it make sense to announce this thing at WWDC then release it during the holiday season?
Unlike the original HomePod, it sounds like this thing will need some type of third-party integrations, even if they aren’t full applications.
The app functions and shortcuts with Siri, widgets, etc.
Plus the fact that this thing is supposed to run on an entirely new operating system called homeOS…
That’s my prediction.
WWDC: announcement of HomePad and homeOS.
July/August: release homeOS SDK to developers.
September/October: hold an event where you give a quick refresher on the HomePad, plus announcements for the new A18 based regular HomePod, HomePod mini and Apple TV to go with it.

This always felt like a logical WWDC tease with a release in the Fall, especially with iPhone SE, Beats and some Macs happening in late winter/early spring. In typical Gurman fashion, Apple isn't blowing any release dates here. He was just underestimating the shipping time to fill his weekly subscription newsletter and now gets to write about how it's coming out later than that.

 

[turbineseaplane]

The home hub will run a new "homeOS" operating system

This part ... doesn't excite me

The last thing Apple needs is yet another "OS" to manage and resource for

 

[thefrost]

If you have been waiting for Apple's rumored smart home hub to launch, prepare to wait some more. In his Power On newsletter over the weekend, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said the device is still "months away" from shipping.

Thanks Mark Gurman for uplifting me! As helpful as ever! /s

 

[rybak17]

"and revolve around Siri, Apple Intelligence"

Another product only available in the US and a few exceptions

 

[PsykX]

That's been the saving grace

I've bought a few lightbulbs and plugs lately, and Matter support is mandatory for me to purchase at this point

Same, but it's also very limiting. Companies take months (and even years!) to support these ecosystems.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Same, but it's also very limiting. Companies take months (and even years!) to support these ecosystems.

Agreed

I've been a very happy Govee customer on various temperature sensors and smart plugs over the years and I'd like to keep buying more of their stuff -- but the selection they have of Matter enabled gear is incredibly limited still

That said, the smart plug is one of them .. have two of their Matter enabled versions and they are fantastic

 

[cardfan]

"and revolve around Siri, Apple Intelligence"

Another product only available in the US and a few exceptions

Siri needs to be wiped away and scrapped and should definitely be their main priority.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

I can't believe Apple hasn't already gone all in on this by now. Cameras, motion sensors, robot vacuums, door bells, thermostats, etc.

Apple can easily go all in on this (and many other things)… but when they put their target margin on top of the costs, it all gets very expensive from Apple. Do we want to pay 3X-5X established pricing for vacuums and thermostats, etc? Sure, SOME of us would pay 3X-5X for Apple-branded T.P. if Apple 'rolled' it out...

...but average Joe needs to be moved to buy door locks and motion sensors, etc. to make this a success... and typical Apple “highest prices” there can steer them away to well-established competition at down-to-Earth pricing.

I’m a bit interested in such stuff and have an Apple-loaded home. Shopped door locks. Those compatible with HomeKit were 30-50% or more higher than what appeared to be the exact same product without HomeKit. Do I want to pay $200+ for “how cool!” door locks or keep carrying a no-batteries-required key that always works and the door lock costs $20 for the same lock security?

It’s not like $200 is so much to people who buy multi-thousand dollar computers, thousand dollar phones regularly or rationalize added RAM and SSD AT 3X-5X above market… but spread that around to other “smart home” devices and it piles up. The Apple-connected option always seems most expensive by far. For door locks and security cams and vacuums, there’s not a lot of “elegant interfaces” or blue bubbles or not-plasticy/wobbly to differentiate. It’s still just a lock or a doorbell or a thermostat, etc.

Before someone chimes in that Apple can finally do "smart home" right, that's great. But HomeKit launched in 2014. How long does it take for Apple to get it right? Siri long? Is a limited function iPad-like screen going to magically do it? I'll try to keep an open mind until we see what this actually is... but HomeKit so far seems more like Siri or "we're serious about gaming this time."