Apple smart home: 4 big announcements to watch

October is shaping up to be an exceptionally busy month at Apple Park. The company is readying the iPhone Duo, revamped Health app on iOS 27.2, touchscreen MacBook Pro, and overhauled iPad mini, which could all launch by the end of this month. That won’t be all.

Apple is reportedly planning to announce three smart home products as soon as October 13. According to credible rumors, the devices will include next-generation Apple TV 4K and HomePod mini models, along with a brand-new home hub. While many enthusiasts may perceive some of next week’s Apple TV and HomePod upgrades as unexciting performance boosts, the chip bumps will actually unlock never-before-seen advantages for Apple’s smart home line.

An all-new platform

The star of the show will undoubtedly be the dedicated home hub—what some are referring to as the HomePad. Hardware-related leaks and OS code references already give us a solid idea of what to expect from this forthcoming device, including its approximate size and some of its software perks.

The HomePad will offer a 6-inch, square-shaped touchscreen stitched to a HomePod-like speaker and draw AC power. Users will be able to display memories from their photo libraries when it’s idle—presumably depending on who’s detected nearby. It will rely on the built-in camera to recognize household members and surface apps/data accordingly, in addition to providing for FaceTime video calls.

Perhaps the most exciting aspect of the HomePad is the all-new homeOS, which will certainly introduce its own unique user interface and feature set to justify the creation of such a device. Apple TV 4K and HomePod models already act as HomeKit hubs, and the iPad is perfectly capable of controlling smart home accessories. So, it’s safe to assume that the HomePad will bring new features, enticing customers to add it to their existing setups.

Smarter speaker

The HomePod mini has been around for six years, providing a decent listening experience, seamless Apple ecosystem integrations, and basic voice command support in a miniature design. During the October 13 launch, Apple could finally unveil the HomePod mini 2, bringing fresh color options, potential audio improvements, and a faster S-series chip. While this may sound like an iterative upgrade, the HomePod mini 2 will finally resolve its predecessor’s main flaw.

Apple

Despite its smart speaker classification, the HomePod mini is currently powered by the classic Siri, which is anything but smart. The voice assistant frequently struggles to perform basic actions, requires precise phrasing, and instructs users to check their iPhones for complex answers.

The HomePod mini 2 will address that by adopting Siri AI, allowing you to speak more naturally and get hands-free answers based on its trained data and your personal information. Many users will finally be satisfied with the HomePod’s overall performance, minimizing the need to hunt for smarter third-party alternatives like those from Google and Amazon.

A19 TV perks

Similar to the HomePod mini, the imminent Apple TV 4K 4’s most prominent highlight will be the introduction of a faster chip. First released in 2022, the current model packs the iPhone 13’s A15 Bionic chipset with 4GB of RAM. Next week’s model could bump that to an A19 or A19 Pro SoC from last year’s iPhone 17 lineup, increasing the RAM to 8GB or 12GB. This will bring Siri AI to the big screen and enhance the set-top box’s general performance. That seems unlikely to be the full story.

Opting for a year-old flagship smartphone processor in the midst of a chip shortage crisis solely for Siri AI support does not add up—especially since TVs aren’t primary AI consumption devices. Had it been the case, Apple could’ve easily repurposed the iPhone 15 Pro’s A17 Pro chip and gotten away with it.

Foundry

As such, I presume the fourth-generation Apple TV 4K will bring meaningful software additions that take full advantage of the A19, like a more serious gaming push. Given that Beats has allegedly been developing game controllers, this theory could realistically materialize. Otherwise, no one is paying over two hundred bucks to stream Netflix and chill with Siri AI in the living room.

The great unknown

While iPhone hardware components tend to leak in advance all the time, Apple has a tighter grip over its software development teams. During pretty much every press event, the company surprises us with fresh OS features introductions that had been built in utter secrecy. These features often roll out to older devices, too, despite being marketed for the latest and greatest releases.

Foundry

So even if you’re not planning to upgrade your current Apple smart home devices, the next software update could still elevate your experience with significant additions—like iOS 27.2’s four-HomePod surround sound setup.