Apple is gearing up to announce a new smart home hub, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman.
As early as March 2025, the iPhone maker could release a tablet that mounts to your wall, controls smart home appliances, does video calls, and of course features Apple Intelligence.
The device reportedly has a 6-inch touchscreen, but it’s expected that, like a HomePod, it will use voice to control it, either through Siri, Apple Intelligence, or an upcoming system called “App Intents” that lets AI control applications.
It supposedly runs on a new OS, with sensors to detect how close a person is, but will have traditional Apple apps like Safari, Apple Music, Notes, and Calendar.
Apple’s “command center for the home” seems intended as a rival to Amazon’s Echo Hub and Google’s Nest Hub, so expect it to be priced similarly (i.e. $100 to $250). However, Apple is also working on an iPad on a robotic arm that follows you around the room, which could cost closer to $1000.