Apple is once again setting its sights on the smart home market, preparing a new lineup of innovative products aimed at reshaping how users interact with technology at home. After a mixed reception to the original HomePod line, the tech giant appears ready to take a second, more calculated leap into the space this time with ambitious new hardware, smarter AI, and a long-term vision that could rival competitors like Amazon, Google, and Samsung.
Over the last few years, Apple has expanded beyond its traditional hardware lineup of iPhones, iPads, and Macs. From its ongoing efforts in the automotive space (Project Titan) to its growing focus on health and wearables, Apple has shown increasing interest in verticals that redefine personal technology. Now, the company is zeroing in on a smarter home.
According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple is preparing to release multiple smart home products between late 2025 and early 2026. These are not mere iterations of existing devices like the HomePod or Apple TV, but rather entirely new product categories designed to integrate deeply with Apple’s ecosystem particularly Apple Intelligence and Siri.
An iPad With a Robotic Arm? The Future of Smart Home Control
Perhaps the most eye-catching concept in Apple’s pipeline is an iPad-like device mounted on a robotic arm. While details remain scarce, the device reportedly resembles a hybrid between a tablet and a stationary robot. Though its exact function is unknown, we can speculate on a few use cases:
- Smart home control hub with gesture-based or voice-based navigation
- Video conferencing assistant that follows the user around a room
- AI-driven assistant for household tasks, like recipe guidance or entertainment
The concept suggests Apple is thinking beyond static smart displays and looking to create a more dynamic, responsive hub. In this vision, the robotic arm could physically reposition the screen to face the user or enhance accessibility in shared spaces like kitchens and living rooms.
This device, if executed well, could redefine how we think about digital assistants in the home, blending Apple’s traditional strength in hardware design with its emerging push in AI.
A More Affordable Alternative: Project J490
In addition to the robotic-arm-equipped smart display, Apple is reportedly working on a lower-end version of the same device, internally codenamed J490. Unlike its more sophisticated counterpart, this model will lack the robotic features but still serve as a central hub for controlling smart devices, conducting FaceTime calls, managing reminders, or consuming media.
Originally expected to launch sooner, the J490’s development has hit a few snags primarily due to delays in Apple’s Siri upgrade plans. As Siri undergoes a significant overhaul to support on-device AI processing, Apple appears cautious about launching a smart home product that relies heavily on a voice assistant that isn’t yet fully ready.
If development progresses as expected, J490 could be released by the end of 2025, potentially giving Apple a competitive product for the holiday season.
One of the key reasons for Apple’s delay in launching new smart home devices is the current state of Siri, which remains less capable than Amazon’s Alexa or Google Assistant. However, Apple has major plans to change that.
Siri is being rebuilt to include on-device AI processing, which not only improves response time and privacy but also enables more contextual and personalized interactions. The upgraded Siri is expected to play a central role in Apple’s smart home vision, acting as the glue that binds HomeKit devices, Apple Intelligence, and user habits together.
For these new devices to succeed, Siri needs to move beyond its current limitations and evolve into a truly proactive home assistant. Apple is clearly aware of this and appears committed to getting it right even if that means delaying hardware launches.
Competition and Market Timing
Apple enters a highly competitive smart home market dominated by companies like Amazon (Echo), Google (Nest Hub), and Samsung (SmartThings). These companies already offer a wide array of smart displays, speakers, and AI assistants integrated into their ecosystems.
However, none of these platforms offer the same tight integration that Apple can achieve across its devices. With a unified ecosystem and a growing focus on user privacy and on-device processing, Apple could attract users who want smart functionality without sacrificing data security.
The timing also works in Apple’s favor: as the smart home market matures and consolidates, there is space for a premium, well-integrated system that goes beyond basic voice commands.
With a revamped Siri, new smart displays (including one with a robotic arm), and a timeline that spans into early 2026, Apple is setting the stage for a significant push into the smart home sector. The company is clearly aiming to move beyond simply participating in the space and instead lead its next evolution.
Whether or not Apple succeeds will depend on execution, software maturity, and pricing strategy. But one thing is clear: Apple’s second act in the smart home market is going to be far more ambitious and potentially more impactful than its first.
