Apple’s 7-inch smart home hub may not arrive this quarter as initially rumored. A new report indicates the device will launch later in 2025 due to a key iOS 18 feature not being ready for release.
Apple’s smart home hub might not launch soon
Rumors have long suggested that Apple is working on a smart home hub with a 7-inch display that will let users control HomeKit and Matter-compatible devices easily.
The device reportedly will feature an A18 chip and rely on Apple Intelligence to supercharge its abilities. Early rumors pegged the smart home hub to launch in 2024. But Apple eventually delayed its release to Q1 2025 or beyond.
Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman, in the first 2025 edition of his Power On newsletter, provided more insight behind the purported delay in the release of Apple’s home hub.
Apparently, homeOS — the smart display’s rumored operating system — will heavily rely on App Intents, Apple’s framework for weaving third-party apps into the Apple ecosystem. App Intents will become more powerful when iOS 18.4 arrives this spring, allowing apps to work within the smarter Siri powered by Apple Intelligence, and will gain even more capabilities with iOS 19’s release later in 2025. Apple might delay the launch of the smart home display to take full advantage of the latest software.
App Intents will make Siri more powerful
App Intents will allow you to control apps using Siri. For example, you can ask the voice assistant to open a picture in the Photos app and share it with a friend over iMessage.
Gurman did not provide a clear release timeline. However, based on his report, it is safe to assume that Apple’s smart display will launch after iOS 18.4’s release.
The smart display will pave the way for future smart home devices from Apple, including a doorbell with Face ID support.
