Apple is preparing to launch a new smart home display, internally referred to as Personal Hub, as early as October. According to Mark Gurman, the company is currently testing two distinct versions of the device, identified by the codenames J490 and J491. The former is designed for desktop placement with a dedicated stand, while the latter is intended for wall mounting.
Both variants will feature a compact, square-shaped display with a smaller diagonal size compared to Amazon Echo Show devices. The product will run on a custom operating system that blends elements from iOS, tvOS, and watchOS. The interface will include a home screen, widgets, and watch faces, powered by Siri AI for searching personal data, media, and managing app-specific tasks.
The device includes a built-in camera for video calls and facial recognition to identify family members. Once a user is recognized, the display will show personalized data such as calendars, notes, and news without requiring depth sensors like those in Face ID. The hub will also support intercom functionality and smart home management.
The new display will require an iPhone for initial setup and certain operations. This launch is expected to be one of the first major product releases under the leadership of Apple's new CEO, John Ternus.
