Apple is reportedly expected to announce the “HomePad” smart-home hub on 13 October. It is said to feature an approximately 6-inch display, with 2 models, a tabletop version and a wall-mounted version, under consideration.
Based on reporting by Bloomberg reporter Gurman, Apple is developing a smart-home hub with a display and is expected to announce it on 13 October. The tabletop version is designed with a display mounted on a round metal base, while the wall-mounted version has the codename J491. Both models will require continuous power, with USB-C used as the power input. These reports assume an official announcement, but Apple has not formally announced the product as of now.
The facial-recognition function is reportedly designed to identify people who speak to or approach the device and switch the display accordingly, while being less reliable than Face ID. A guest mode may allow personal information to be hidden, and two-factor authentication via an iPhone may also be enabled. These points have been compiled from publicly available information.
In the current market, devices with displays, such as Amazon’s Echo Show and Google’s Nest Hub Max, are already widely used. Some view Apple’s entry as strengthening an existing competitive category rather than creating a new product category. There have also been reports that the device was designed around Siri AI, and some have pointed out that the assistant’s performance will have a major bearing on the device’s value.
The product’s rollout in Japan, pricing, launch date, and the handling of face registration, children and guests remain undecided, and the information that can be confirmed at present is limited. Additional information is expected to be needed after the announcement, and attention is focused on further developments.