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Apple's foray into smart home devices is expected in March 2025 with an AI-powered, wall-mounted tablet, Bloomberg reports, citing people familiar with the situation.
The iPad-like device, internally known as J490, will act as a "command center" for smart home appliances and rival Amazon's Echo Hub and Google's Nest Hub. It will control appliances, handle video calls, and leverage AI to launch apps.
The rumored device will have a 6-inch touch-screen display, thick bezels, a front camera, a rechargeable built-in battery, and speakers. It may be about the size of two iPhones placed next to each other and come in black or silver.
The interface may look like a blend of the Apple Watch and iPhone's StandBy Mode, the report suggests. However, since Apple expects most customers will interact with the device using voice commands, its features will be deeply integrated with Siri and Apple Intelligence. The operating system, codenamed Pebble, will feature apps built using App Intents, an Apple framework that lets developers make their app's content discoverable via Spotlight, widgets, and enhanced action capabilities of Siri with Apple Intelligence.
We don't yet know what apps will come preinstalled, but it's possible Safari, Apple News, Apple Music, Calendar, and Notes could come pre-loaded on the smart home device. Users may have to be content with these native apps as there won't be a dedicated App Store.
Since home security is also shaping up to be a primary area of focus for Apple, it'll tap into its HomeKit framework for controlling devices. The smart home screen device may display footage from cameras and video doorbells and can serve as an intercom device in homes with multiple Apple displays.
CEO Tim Cook is keen to launch the product since he thinks Apple can be a "force" in the smart home segment, according to the report.
If the smart display does well, Apple might also launch a smart home robot with thin robotic arms. That device may be marketed as a "home companion with an AI personality." The display-only device might be priced close to its competitors, between $150-$230, and the smart robot might cost as much as $1,000.