Apple Prepares Answer to Google Nest Hub: First Home Smart Display to Debut October 13

In mid-October, Apple plans to hold a major event devoted entirely to its smart home ecosystem. According to sources at Bloomberg, on October 13 the company will unveil three devices at once: an all-new home hub with a touchscreen, an updated Apple TV 4K set-top box, and the next generation of the HomePod mini speaker. For the company, this is its first serious attempt to gain a foothold in the stationary smart display market and compete directly with the Amazon Echo Show and Google Nest Hub.

The main premiere will be a device with the internal codename J490 (the tech media have tentatively dubbed it HomePad). Unlike the iPad, it is not a portable tablet but an exclusively stationary gadget with no built-in battery, powered from an outlet via a USB-C cable.

An iMac G4-Style Design and Facial Recognition

Apple’s engineers decided to play on nostalgia: the desktop version of the new hub visually echoes the iconic iMac G4. A roughly 6-inch touchscreen attaches to a round metal base with speakers and microphones via a hinged arm that lets users smoothly adjust the tilt angle. There are also reports of an alternative wall-mount version of the housing in development — it will serve as a classic control panel.

The device runs a modified version of tvOS, with an interface designed specifically for voice commands and touch input. The hub will be able to control devices in Apple Home, make FaceTime calls, play music, and work as an in-home intercom for communicating between rooms.

Particular emphasis is placed on interface personalization. The gadget will get a feature that automatically recognizes users by voice and face. As a family member approaches the screen, they will see their own widgets, reminders, and calendar events. At the same time, The Verge notes that this refers to a software recognition algorithm, not a direct port of the expensive Face ID hardware scanner from flagship iPhones.

AI Processors for Apple TV and HomePod mini

Along with the new screen, Apple’s classic home devices — which have not received hardware upgrades in several years — will also be updated.

The HomePod mini speaker will keep its current look, but its color palette will expand with fresh options, including pink and green. The main change is hidden on the board: the speaker will get a modern processor powerful enough to run the updated Siri AI neural assistant.

The Apple TV 4K will get a similar upgrade. The device will keep its familiar design but move to a powerful A17 Pro-class processor and gain the company’s N1 networking chip with support for modern wireless standards. The main focus here is also on Siri AI integration and on-device processing of requests.

Apple’s more ambitious home project — a smart display on a robotic arm that can turn to follow a person moving around the room — will not be shown at the October event. The device is indeed in active development, but its launch is planned for a later date. The company has not yet sent out official invitations for the October 13 event.