Apple event announced: New home hardware on October 13
The announcement is here: Apple has announced its smart home event this fall. It’s happening as early as Tuesday.
Apple invitation: A pretty doily for your cozy home.
(Image: Apple)
It happened faster than expected: Apple has announced the date for its first of possibly two fall events. The event, titled “Welcome Home”, is scheduled for October 13th, as had been previously expected. The title says it all: it will be about the smart home – and Apple’s attempt to revive its HomeKit business. A combination of new products from the company itself and devices from third-party providers is expected.
“Home Hub” is the star of the event
A short video posted on X by Apple’s worldwide marketing head, Greg Joswiak, shows two people embroidering an invitation in fast motion. Interestingly, the video is almost square and not a regular vertical video. This fits the rumor that the first of the new devices, the so-called Home Hub, will have a 6-inch screen in this format. Apple has been working on this hardware for years. It’s intended to be a new, iPad-like home center. It would be available in a wall-mounted version (but likely still with a compact speaker at the bottom) and as a freestanding device with a hemispherical speaker base (a bit like an iMac G4).
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The Home Hub, whose final name has not yet been leaked, is said to be able to distinguish faces via camera, has its own operating system (“homeOS”) likely without an App Store, and combines the look of iPad and Apple Watch in its interface. It is also likely to feature various widgets and ambient displays when the device is not in use. With the hardware, you can not only control your smart home but also make FaceTime calls, watch videos, check the weather and news (also via iMessage), and manage your calendar. Siri AI will be included, likely also in the EU. There are no price indications yet, but it’s expected to start under 500 Euros. In line with this, Apple will also add new HomeKit products from LG to its lineup, developed collaboratively, including cameras, a lock, and a thermostat.
“Apple Experience” in New York
The event is also expected to finally deliver new HomePod mini speakers and a new Apple TV 4K. The smart speakers will come in new colors and likely retain the previous design, but will probably be ready for Siri AI. The Apple TV 4K will also get Siri AI in the new version thanks to faster chips (A19 or A19 Pro, more RAM, N1 network chip), but will likely remain cosmetically unchanged.
It is unclear whether an OLED iPad mini (new screen technology, faster chip) will also be released, but it would make sense. It is unclear exactly when the devices will be shown on October 13th. A classic keynote is not planned; instead, selected journalists have been invited to an “Apple Experience” in New York. Interestingly, this begins at 9 AM local time. Thus, it is conceivable that a video about the new products might be released between 1 PM and 2 PM.
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