The new device is said to be like an iPad and a HomePod all-in-one
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Apple's long-rumored smart home display finally appears to be coming to market… but not until spring 2026.
That's the word, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, who first reported on Apple's smart home revolution plans last year.
Gurman has stated that the new smart display will be priced at $350, placing it firmly in the premium range; Amazon recently removed the covers of the 4th generation Show 8 and Show 11, which cost $180 and $220 respectively.
Its report states that Apple's competitor will feature a 7-inch display and act as a central hub for controlling connected devices, managing calls and running home automation with next-generation Siri.
Two versions are reportedly in the works: a tabletop model that looks like a HomePod mini with a screen, and a wall-mounted version that will serve as a more permanent control center.
Both are said to have a FaceTime camera and an adaptive interface that detects who is nearby.
Development delays reportedly related to Apple's AI overhaul and the introduction of the new Siri are said to be the reason the launch has been pushed back to spring 2026.
Unlike previous Apple products, the new smart home devices will apparently be assembled in Vietnam, but Apple hasn't given up on China, as the company is reportedly working with BYD, better known for its electric cars, to handle production of both the home hub and a tabletop robot expected to follow in 2027.
The robot – essentially a motorized smart display that can rotate and track your movements – is said to be in early stages of development.
It has been reported in the past to look like an iPad on a motorized arm that can rotate, follow you around a room and join in on conversations with a new lifelike Siri.
If that seems a bit far-fetched, remember that Apple released a study on ELEGNT earlier this year; a tabletop robot that looked like the Pixar logo and had a lamp at the end of its arm.
Apple is also said to be working on a new indoor security camera (codename J450), scheduled for release in late 2026.
It is expected to be tightly integrated with HomeKit Secure Video and Apple Intelligence to enable smarter motion alerts and privacy-focused storage.