Apple is moving toward postponing the launch of its long-awaited smart home device until the fall of 2026, according to recent leaks from a prototyping expert known as Kusutami. The leaker on the
The company has been developing this device for several years to serve as an integrated control center for all smart home products. This innovation aims to facilitate users’ lives by integrating multiple tasks, including listening to music and podcasts and making video calls, in addition to providing quick and direct information such as weather conditions and details of events recorded in the daily calendar.
Expectations indicate that the device will come with a 7-inch square screen with a built-in front camera. The company is likely to offer two different versions to meet all needs, as the first version is designed to be hung on the wall, while the second version features a speaker base that is very similar to the design of the familiar HomePod mini device, making it ideal for placing on offices or home tables.
The device will rely on built-in smart sensors capable of determining the approach of any person to the home center, so that the content displayed on the screen will change automatically based on the identity of the person present. The primary reliance for operation will be on voice commands for the smart assistant Siri, which may appear in a completely new design that embodies an interactive character, as one of the designs was described as resembling the famous MacFinder application icon.
The company is expected to offer this home center at a price of approximately 350 US dollars. Although the first rumors suggested it would be released in early 2025, delays in Apple’s intelligence features pushed the date to early 2026 and then finally to the fall. This new timing means that the device may accompany the launch of huge products such as the iPhone 18 Pro phones in September or the new-designed MacBook Pro devices in October.
