Apple’s highly anticipated smart home hub is generating significant buzz as new details regarding its launch timeline and pricing have emerged. This innovative device is expected to boast a 7-inch display and an integrated FaceTime camera, alongside support for advanced Apple Intelligence features. While initially planned for a March 2025 release, reports indicate a pushed-back debut. Apple is reportedly gearing up for production by establishing a new manufacturing hub in Vietnam, in collaboration with BYD.
A Closer Look: The Smart Home Hub’s Features and Design
According to a Bloomberg report, Apple intends to launch its smart home hub, featuring a 7-inch square display, in the spring of 2026. The hardware development for this new device was reportedly completed a year ago. Its initial launch, planned for March alongside an updated Siri assistant, was apparently postponed due to unforeseen delays in the AI software development.
The anticipated Siri upgrade, set to be unveiled in March 2026, is poised to introduce a suite of new features and enhanced in-app controls. These advancements are expected to be crucial, allowing the smart home hub to seamlessly manage home appliances, music playback, and various communication functionalities.
Reports suggest Apple is actively developing two distinct versions of its forthcoming home hub. One model, internally referred to as J490, is described as featuring a display integrated into a speaker base, reminiscent of a HomePod mini with a screen. The second variant, J491, is reportedly designed for wall-mounting. Apple apparently finalized the development of the wall-mounted version shortly after completing the standard tabletop model.
Both the J490 and J491 models are rumored to incorporate a FaceTime camera and a dynamic software interface. This intelligent system could adapt its display and functionalities based on user recognition as they approach the device.
Apple is reportedly targeting a price point of approximately $350 (roughly Rs. 30,000) for the new home hub. This pricing would position it about $50 (approximately Rs. 4,000) higher than the current full-sized HomePod, and notably more expensive than comparable smart home devices offered by competitors like Amazon and Google.
Sources familiar with Apple’s plans indicate that the company’s operations teams are actively exploring methods to reduce manufacturing costs. The goal is to potentially lower the device’s price, either for its initial market release or for future generations.
Shifting Production: Apple’s Vietnam Strategy
Furthermore, the report highlights Apple’s strategic move to expand its manufacturing presence in Vietnam. This aligns with the company’s broader effort to diversify its production base away from China and could significantly bolster its entry into the smart home hardware market.
Beyond the new home hub, Apple is reportedly developing a suite of other smart home devices, such as indoor security cameras and a display for appliance control. These products, along with expanded iPad production, are also slated for manufacturing in Vietnam through the partnership with BYD, as per Bloomberg.
Adding to its ambitious roadmap, Apple is also rumored to be developing a tabletop robot equipped with a motorized arm, with an official debut expected in 2027.
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