Apple may have quietly teased its next big home device during the iPhone launch, without actually showing the device itself. During his first keynote as CEO, John Ternus spent time describing an ideal AI device with a display, cameras, microphones, constant connectivity, and easy access to other hardware and services. As it turns out, that vision wasn’t just about the iPhone.
A little square screen with some very big ambitions
Apple’s long-awaited smart home hub, internally known as J490, is now being tested extensively in employees’ homes and could be introduced as early as next month, according to Bloomberg.
The device is essentially Apple’s answer to products such as the Amazon Echo Show, although it reportedly has a smaller, roughly square display. It can either sit on a stand or be mounted on a wall, with the hardware packing Wi-Fi connectivity, a camera, microphones, and an interface that blends ideas from iOS, tvOS and watchOS. It also works closely with the iPhone for setup and other tasks.
One particularly interesting feature is facial recognition. The front-facing camera can identify who is looking at the display and then personalise what appears on screen, including apps, notes, calendar appointments, news, music and podcasts. There will also be a home screen, widgets and clock-face-style displays, giving the device a more personal feel than a traditional smart speaker.
Siri finally gets a home of its own
Siri is clearly the star of the J490 show. Apple wants the hub to answer questions using information across devices and accounts, play music and podcasts, surface photos, and handle tasks inside apps such as Notes, Reminders and Calendar. With its new operating system built around Siri AI, Apple’s revamped assistant finally gets a physical space to call home.
That also makes the J490 much more than a HomePod with a screen. Apple appears to be positioning it as a command center for the smart home, bringing together connected-device controls, video calls, intercom, media, and Apple services in one place. And with Siri AI only just arriving with iOS 27, the timing is telling: Apple seems to have waited for the assistant to get smarter before giving it an entire home to run.
If Apple sticks to the current plan, the smart home hub could arrive as early as October 2026. After years of Apple talking about making Siri smarter, it could finally have a screen, a camera, and an entire house to boss around.
RELATED COVERAGE:
