Apple’s Siri-Powered Smart Home Hub Is Coming, And It Might Recognize Your Face

By Shikhar Mehrotra • Updated On 29 Jul 2026

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TL; DR

Apple’s Siri AI smart home hub is expected between October 2026 and early 2027.
The hub uses facial recognition to personalize its interface for each user.
Refreshed Apple TV and HomePod mini with faster chips arrive this autumn.

Apple is reportedly close to launching three new smart home products built around Siri AI, marking the company’s most concrete push yet into a category it has approached cautiously for years.

Apple Is Planning As Many As Three New Devices

According to a Bloomberg report, the lineup includes a Siri AI-powered smart home hub, alongside refreshed versions of the Apple TV and HomePod mini. While the Apple TV and HomePod mini are expected to arrive this autumn, the smart home hub could follow between October and early next year.

Also Read: Google Pixel 11 Pro Could Ship With Smaller Batteries, Despite A Confirmed Price Revision

Apple’s Siri-Powered Smart Hub: What To Expect

The hub is expected to feature a roughly 7-inch square screen running a new software platform based on tvOS. The operating system could blend elements of tvOS, iOS, and watchOS with app grids, widgets, and customizable clock faces (similar to the Apple Watch). Facial recognition could be central to the smart home experience.

The hub is expected to identify individual users and adjust its interface and on-screen content, including calendars and notes, based on who’s viewing it (user profiling based on Face ID). In addition, the report claims that Apple is developing two hub variants: the J490, pairing the screen with a half-dome, HomePod mini-inspired base, and the J491. The latter could be designed for wall mounting via magnetic attachment.

Also Read: Dell’s new India laptops start at ₹79,990: an AI-infused lineup anchored by a 1kg XPS 13

Product	Codename	Expected Timeline	Key Feature
Smart Home Hub (tabletop)	J490	Oct 2026–early 2027	Half-dome base, facial recognition
Smart Home Hub (wall-mount)	J491	Oct 2026–early 2027	Magnetic wall attachment
Apple TV (refreshed)	J265	Autumn 2026	Faster processor for Siri AI
HomePod mini (refreshed)	B525	Autumn 2026	Faster processor for Siri AI

Apple originally planned a 2024 launch alongside the redesigned Siri, but that didn’t happen. Now that Siri AI is already out and gathering good attention, it seems like the right time for the company to unveil these products.

I think the facial recognition angle is the most consequential detail here. A shared household device that behaves differently for each person offers a meaningfully different pitch than what Amazon and Google currently offer: a common device for everyone.

Also Read: Apple Is Offering Up To ₹15,000 Cashback On Macbooks, Right After It Increased The Prices Last Month

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Shikhar Mehrotra

Shikhar Mehrotra is a seasoned technology writer and reviewer with over five years of experience covering consumer tech across India and global markets. At Smartprix, he has authored more than 1,700 articles, including news stories, features, comparisons, and product reviews spanning automobiles, smartphones, chipsets, wearables, laptops, home appliances, and operating systems. Shikhar has reviewed flagship devices such as the iPhone 16, Galaxy S25+, and Sennheiser HD 505 Open-Ear headphones. He also contributes regularly to Smartprix’s growing automotive section.

With a deep understanding of both iOS and Android ecosystems, Shikhar specializes in daily tech news, how-to explainers, product comparisons, and in-depth reviews. His DSLR photography in product reviews is recognized as among the best on the team.

Before joining Smartprix, Shikhar wrote for leading publications including Forbes Advisor India, Republic World, and ScreenRant. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Mass Communication from Amity University, Lucknow.

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