Apple's rumored Home Hub said to be under employee testing

AppleInsider

Apple's long-rumored Home Hub peripheral is now rumored to be debuting in the second half of 2025, and is allegedly being taken home by select Apple employees for real-world testing.

One concept for a future Apple Smart Home Hub.

Various rumors have suggested that Apple will be making a big push into smart home accessories across the second half of 2025, including the existing Home Key feature for a future smart doorbell. Apple is also working with other manufacturers of smart home accessories to ensure HomeKit compatibility.

A new report from Bloomberg reiterates earlier claims that Apple intends to tie the rise of HomeKit accessories into a smart Home Hub, now with a device code name: J490.

The long-rumored accessory is now likely to wait for its debut until the June WWDC developer conference or later to be officially announced. This may coincide with the existing tvOS changing to become the basis of a future homeOS.

In part, this could be due to the recently-announced delay in Siri development -- now expected to be a bigger part of iOS and iPadOS 19 along with the next version of macOS, rather than later in the iOS 18 cycle as previously expected.

Testing on the product continues, however. The new report claims that Apple has begun internal testing on the device, including letting select employees take it home and provide feedback.

Apple Home Hub predictions

Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has previously claimed that the product will enter mass production in the second half of 2025, likely aiming for a holiday-season debut. The Home Hub is thought to include a camera for FaceTime calls, as well as a high-quality speaker.

To complement the device, Apple may release its own line of indoor security cameras, or partner with existing makers to ensure HomeKit compatibility with more smart home accessories. Ikea, for example, recently filed for FCC clearance on its first Matter-over-Thread supporting temperature and humidity sensor, which would work with its compatible Dirigera hub.

A potential future Apple home robot. Image credit: Apple Machine Learning Research

Currently, there are thought to be two versions of the unannounced Apple Home Hub. This includes the iPad-like device that could be wall-mounted or act as a HomePod audio device with display, and a future Luxo-like robotic arm meant as a tabletop device that could "follow" a user's movements during a video call, similar to the CenterStage feature.

These future hardware products would tie in deeply with family members' personal Apple devices, offering coordination between Contacts, Calendar, Reminders and other apps. According to rumors, Apple's intent is to offer the mountable Home Hub as a lower-cost device, with a later robotic assistant as a more expensive and advanced option.

Rumor Score: Possible

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rogue01

Someone on Facebook said it best...this device will be a smaller, less capable iPad with a speaker using an outdated old CPU.  That is Apple's usual strategy with the HomePod device, which has not been a big seller.  People already use their iPads or iPhones for home automation, assuming they actually use HomeKit devices.  Most don't.  No one wants to try and look at a small iPad from across the room.

mpantone

Personally I think the idea of a fixed tablet makes zero sense for today's consumer. No one wants to get up to go look at a screen. They want to do everything from their phones (or possibly an Apple Watch) since that's realistically those are the only two devices they are going to carry around with them throughout the house.

The most plausible Home Hub hardware device would be some sort of dual- or multi-function MagSafe-equipped smart charging stand that would be controlled by a software interface primarily from their phones.

A device with HomePod-like features would be okay but again but voice control only works within normal speaking distance.

One thing for sure that this Home Hub device would have to conquer would be effortless device configuration. It needs to "just work" rather going through complicated, unreliable, convoluted pairing procedures. That's like 95% software.

Also devices like iPhones and Apple Watches can indicate where the person is (living room, den, bedroom, garage, laundry room, etc.) and possibly adjust connected devices appropriately. If I need to walk up to a touchpanel to dim the lights upon leaving a room, hell, it's easier to just hit a physical light switch.

We've seen consumers push back on full touchscreen interfaces in automobiles and a return of certain physical controls (like cabin climate control). It's way easier to just turn on/off the bedside lamp by hitting a switch rather than hunt around some screen for the button that turns off that light or use voice commands which might disturb other occupants.

And speaking of software it's clear that a Home Hub device will work better if it interfaces with a Siri implementation that isn't as dumb as a rock. That means that Apple really needs to release a context-aware version of Siri with Apple Intelligence with meaningful accuracy and reliability before they will have anything really useful in a Home Hub.

Releasing any sort of Home Hub device with Siri's current capabilities will not help adoption. This is one of those types of new devices that I will not be an early adopter of. I will probably wait 5+ years before thinking about having some sort of smart home hub. I'm sure Apple has prototype hardware in its labs. It's the software that is key.

Based on what I've seen in Apple Intelligence in March 2025, I think we are still 3+ years away from having an Apple Intelligence that will make the smart home viable.

edited March 9

yyzguy

I’m thinking we’re past peak Apple.   Sold 30% of my AAPL holdings the day after the 16 e-waste was announced and rumors like this give me confidence it was the right decision at the right time.   If these things are announced as products, I’ll probably sell off the rest.   

imat

Meanwhile I am still waiting for the AppleTV to be brought up to speed and have some Home things integrated to it in a serious way. And a better integration with HomePod and or HomePod mini.

I don't particularly feel the need for another device, especially now that iPad is so "cheap" I can use it as a spare tablet at home for most of the uses that seem to be integrated in the new device.

petroldave

I gave a basic iPad on a wall mount for Home control by anyone in the house, so why do I need a HomePad???

speed1050

I'm in the minority here.  

For me, if it was like an iPad, with iPad functionality off the dock and locked behind FaceID, but one which snaps to guided access when docked, with Home/scenes on side one side of the screen and Music on the other (even more so if that Music app could be third party), and a proximity sensor so that when nobody is close it shows my photos or memories, then I'd buy it in a heartbeat. 

edited March 10

michelb76

can't wait for MacOS to come under employee testing

avon b7

This an area where you have to be 'all in' across the board.

Having a central control panel is standard but by no means the only option. 

Any authorised account/device should be able to interact with the (smart) home. 

Anything with input capability (voice, gesture, touch...) should seamlessly and instantly have its credentials validated and be part of the control system. 

In some cases, devices might need distributed authentication to be able to carry out certain tasks.

Then there is the sensor side which will feed data back to the system. mmWave fall detection, breathing detection, object detection/distinction, heat, smoke, air quality etc. 

To glue it all together on the communication side there are FTTR and mesh solutions tied together by software. 

Of course, things like domestic robots (from vacuum cleaners to potentially humanoid robots) will require secure IoT chipsets and other security elements. 

If all these pieces can be laid out and work seamlessly together over robust connections then it's a potentially huge revenue stream. 

If they can convince housing developers to build the system into new projects, even better. 

All of the above is already being rolled out by competitors so it won't be easy by any stretch but like I said, if you go 'all in' it could be worth it. 

edited March 10

dewme

My expectations for an Apple Home Hub go far beyond what Amazon has done with its latest biggy sized Alexa Echo slabs. I’ve long thought that it made more sense to have a dedicated hub rather than sticking it in an iPad or HomePod. I’m a firm believer in the separation of responsibility principle and it always seemed strange to have a critical function for a system embedded in a peripheral device. 

Despite my misgivings about where Apple stuck the hub responsibility, I totally understand why they did what they did. A lot of people don’t want to buy a separate device simply to do a function they don’t interact with in the course of their daily lives. 

Where my thoughts go with respect to a dedicated hub, I’m more inclined to believe that such a device must have at least one primary use case that fills an essential need in the home. Entertainment and information availability and presentation are nice to haves, but my home will still function correctly if those things are missing in a device. Home security and home automation are essential for some people, but a lot of folks are fine with lock & key and flipping switches. 

One obvious and essential function that Apple could provide in a home hub is temperature and air quality control. Yeah, I’m talking about something that would mimic-but-improve on what Nest, Ecobee, and other smart thermostats have been doing for quite some time. In fact, many of the higher capability ones have been aggressively pursuing making their smart thermostats the hub of home security and automation functionality as well, including door locks, sensors, lighting, cameras, as well. 

Do I want to see Apple usurp the smart thermostat market?  I’m not sure, but it seems like a more logical and useful basis for establishing a beachhead for further penetration into people’s homes and smart homes than an entertainment and information device like the big Echo Show devices. The fact is that Apple can do BOTH, but to set the hook they need to provide at least one essential function that people actually need rather than simply a bunch of nice to haves. 

edited March 10

applezulu

mpantone said:

Personally I think the idea of a fixed tablet makes zero sense for today's consumer. No one wants to get up to go look at a screen. They want to do everything from their phones (or possibly an Apple Watch) since that's realistically those are the only two devices they are going to carry around with them throughout the house.

The most plausible Home Hub hardware device would be some sort of dual- or multi-function MagSafe-equipped smart charging stand that would be controlled by a software interface primarily from their phones.

A device with HomePod-like features would be okay but again but voice control only works within normal speaking distance.

One thing for sure that this Home Hub device would have to conquer would be effortless device configuration. It needs to "just work" rather going through complicated, unreliable, convoluted pairing procedures. That's like 95% software.

Also devices like iPhones and Apple Watches can indicate where the person is (living room, den, bedroom, garage, laundry room, etc.) and possibly adjust connected devices appropriately. If I need to walk up to a touchpanel to dim the lights upon leaving a room, hell, it's easier to just hit a physical light switch.

We've seen consumers push back on full touchscreen interfaces in automobiles and a return of certain physical controls (like cabin climate control). It's way easier to just turn on/off the bedside lamp by hitting a switch rather than hunt around some screen for the button that turns off that light or use voice commands which might disturb other occupants.

And speaking of software it's clear that a Home Hub device will work better if it interfaces with a Siri implementation that isn't as dumb as a rock. That means that Apple really needs to release a context-aware version of Siri with Apple Intelligence with meaningful accuracy and reliability before they will have anything really useful in a Home Hub.

Releasing any sort of Home Hub device with Siri's current capabilities will not help adoption. This is one of those types of new devices that I will not be an early adopter of. I will probably wait 5+ years before thinking about having some sort of smart home hub. I'm sure Apple has prototype hardware in its labs. It's the software that is key.

Based on what I've seen in Apple Intelligence in March 2025, I think we are still 3+ years away from having an Apple Intelligence that will make the smart home viable.

My bet is that there will be a central home hub device which handles all the AI heavy lifting computational work. HomePods, AppleTVs and the screens described here would all serve as satellite devices connected to that hub. All of those devices always remain in the home, connected to the home network, so this would save on hardware costs for all of the satellite devices, as they could continue using lighter-duty processors, etc. The screens described here would be relatively inexpensive 'dumb' terminal devices that could live in specific rooms or areas of the home, providing a visual interface to the Home app to complement the verbal controls available via HomePods currently provide. This solves the problem some users likely have with home controls when they've left their iPhone in another room or part of the house.

A key barrier to fully implementing HomeKit (or its competition) is that none of it has quite reached the it just works stage. The tech nerds in the family have been willing to put up with some inconvenience in the implementation of the conveniences offered by the panoply of connected home devices, but the rest of the family can still get fairly frustrated by it. These things all need to work reliably, seamlessly and conveniently. Making it affordable to have both verbal and visual home controls distributed around the house is key to moving those other family members from begrudging participants to people who wonder how the world worked without smart home controls. When that happens, Siri and Apple Home will become yet another retroactive instant success.

daalseth

Rogue01 said:

People already use their iPads or iPhones for home automation, assuming they actually use HomeKit devices.  Most don't. 

That’s the big part of this most don’t want to admit. I realized it was the case when my local Rona and Home Depot, were reducing the number of connected lights, locks, bulbs, and such, and filling the space with old style ‘dumb’ devices. They aren’t selling. The fancy Home Automation Connected devices are selling to a small tech crowd, but most people don’t want the hassle. Most people just want things to work and have no problem using a programmable thermostat like they did 30 years ago, or walking over to the light switch, or using a key to open the door. Most of the devices seem like solutions looking for a problem and not finding one.

edited March 10

avon b7

DAalseth said:

Rogue01 said:

People already use their iPads or iPhones for home automation, assuming they actually use HomeKit devices.  Most don't. 

That’s the big part of this most don’t want to admit. I realized it was the case when my local Rona and Home Depot, were reducing the number of connected lights, locks, bulbs, and such, and filling the space with old style ‘dumb’ devices. They aren’t selling. The fancy Home Automation Connected devices are selling to a small tech crowd, but most people don’t want the hassle. Most people just want things to work and have no problem using a programmable thermostat like they did 30 years ago, or walking over to the light switch, or using a key to open the door. Most of the devices seem like solutions looking for a problem and not finding one.

Yes. Any solutions have to be near on 'invisible' in terms of human interaction to make things not only usable but to make users want to use them in the first place. 

Plug and Play for digital lifestyles. 

Systems must absolutely be 'self-healing' on the software side and shouldnt be thrown off by power outages causing corrupt files or whatever. 

AI for configuration and troubleshooting can work well here. 

Another vital area is device support. No one wants to fill a home with smart gear and have a manufacturer do a SONOS and drop support of perfectly good equipment just because it doesn't play well with a newer system.

In this case, maximum attention needs to be paid to chipset security and standards in IoT and then to the security support for the lifetime of the device. 

badmonk

Agree with most of what is said here, Apple missed the boat in not acquiring Eero IMHO as mesh wifi could have been a fondation in building out the smart home—Homepods, AppleTVs, security cameras, baby monitors, sensors, should all double as mesh wifi nodes.  Apple would have been perfect to compete in the home security market—great opportunities for further build outs of services etc etc.  And a base for more usable robotics, i.e patrolling drones and vacuums.

yyzguy

badmonk said:

Agree with most of what is said here, Apple missed the boat in not acquiring Eero IMHO as mesh wifi could have been a fondation in building out the smart home—Homepods, AppleTVs, security cameras, baby monitors, sensors, should all double as mesh wifi nodes.  Apple would have been perfect to compete in the home security market—great opportunities for further build outs of services etc etc.  And a base for more usable robotics, i.e patrolling drones and vacuums.

That would be nice.  Is it too late?  I’m still rocking my 2013 Time Capsule as a wireless AP.   The internal HDD no longer works and it’s in Bridge mode connected to a NAT router.   It’s plenty fast and has good coverage in my 2 story house.   I do wish they’d bring out a new AP though.   Perhaps those have become too commoditized to justify Apple's profit margins.

fastasleep

badmonk said:

Agree with most of what is said here, Apple missed the boat in not acquiring Eero IMHO as mesh wifi could have been a fondation in building out the smart home—Homepods, AppleTVs, security cameras, baby monitors, sensors, should all double as mesh wifi nodes.  Apple would have been perfect to compete in the home security market—great opportunities for further build outs of services etc etc.  And a base for more usable robotics, i.e patrolling drones and vacuums.

They finally released their first wireless chip, perhaps that changes the equation.