Apple is hosting its first dedicated smart home event, the Welcome Home experience, in New York City on October 13th. The company is expected to announce new hardware, including a smart home display, a refreshed HomePod Mini, and an updated Apple TV.
The rumored smart display, potentially named HomeView, features a 6-inch square screen, facial recognition, and a minimalist interface for controlling locks and thermostats. Reports suggest a price point of $350.
The device will launch with homeOS, powered by Siri AI. This integration aims to bring generative AI capabilities to Apple’s smart home ecosystem, allowing for natural language control of devices and automated routines.
Apple is reportedly partnering with companies like LG to develop an Apple Home Collection. This initiative seeks to expand the ecosystem's compatibility while maintaining Apple's standards for privacy and security.
The company previously rebuilt the HomeKit architecture four years ago to support open standards like Matter and Thread. These protocols allow Apple Home to work with a broader range of third-party devices.
