Apple will hold a new-product launch event, “Welcome home.”, in New York on 13 October. Rumors center on a new home hub, a second-generation HomePod mini and a new Apple TV 4K, with attention also focused on competitive developments in the smart-home market.
Apple has announced that it will hold a new-product launch event on 13 October in New York’s Tribeca, reportedly beginning at 9 a.m. Eastern Time. The public video includes imagery evoking the home, and the event is expected to take the form of an in-person experience.
The leading candidate for the event’s highlight is a new home hub with a display. Reports indicate that it will come in wall-mounted and tabletop versions and support features including calendars, notes and FaceTime. Some estimates put the price at approximately $350.
The second-generation smart speaker “HomePod mini” and a new Apple TV 4K have also been discussed, with expectations for enhanced Siri capabilities and improved display and connectivity features tailored to individual family members.
In the smart-home market, developments at Samsung and LG have also drawn attention. Views have been expressed that stronger interoperability among appliances and wider adoption of the common Matter standard could accelerate market growth.