Apple’s first smart home display is now expected around September 2026
It may feature a 7-inch display, facial recognition, and a tvOS-based operating system.
Its home screen could be inspired by Apple Watch.
Apple has reportedly postponed the launch of its long-anticipated smart home display as it continues to refine its next-generation Siri assistant. According to a report by Mark Gurman at Bloomberg, the device was initially planned for a spring release but has now been pushed back to later this year because the updated Siri features are not ready. The product, internally codenamed J490, is expected to serve as Apple’s first dedicated smart home hub with a built-in display. Here’s what we know.
Apple smart home display delay explained
According to Gurman’s report, Apple had originally planned to introduce the smart display in early 2025. The schedule was later shifted to March this year when the company expected the new Siri features to be ready.
However, with the AI-powered Siri rollout delaying again, Apple has reportedly decided to postpone the hardware launch as well. The new Siri upgrade is crucial for the new device, and so even though the hardware is reportedly complete, the company may have to wait till the software side is fully ready.
The company now aims to introduce the device around September, roughly aligning with its next major software releases and upcoming iPhone launch cycle.
Apple has not publicly confirmed the delay. So, it is all hearsay for now.
What the Apple smart home display may offer
The upcoming device is said to resemble a square tablet similar to an iPad, designed to function as a central smart home controller. It can reportedly be mounted on a wall or attached to a speaker-style base.
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We expect to see the following hardware and interface:
- A 7-inch display
- A silver aluminium chassis typical of Apple hardware
- A single USB-C port for power
- A user interface inspired by the Apple Watch home screen layout
- A facial recognition system to identify different users
The facial recognition feature is expected to personalise the experience. Once a user is recognised, the device could display information such as calendar appointments, reminders, notes, music preferences, and news updates.
On the software side, the smart home display is expected to run a customised operating system based on tvOS, the platform currently used on the Apple TV. The device may ship with a variation of tvOS 27, which is expected to arrive later this year. But the UI could bear some resemblance to the Apple Watch home screen.
And since this device is expected to be central to Apple’s broader AI smart home ecosystem, you see why the new Siri’s integration is important. This Siri, with its access to user data, should be able to handle more complex queries and deliver more contextual responses. Siri could also have a better conversation-ready interface.
Also, as the AI Siri is believed to be central to many other upcoming Apple devices, such as smart glasses, camera-equipped AirPods, an AI pendant, and even a bigger home display with a 9-inch screen and robotic arm, Apple must ensure its AI assistant is fully ready.
Let’s see how this plays out and whether Apple manages to take on competitors like Amazon and Google.
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