TL;DR
Get business pricing on your home office setup
- Business-only prices and quantity discounts
- Tax-exempt purchasing
- Multiple users, one account, clear invoices
Apple’s Welcome Home event is scheduled for Oct. 13 at 9 a.m. ET in New York, with smart home announcements expected. The Verge reports that rumors point to a touchscreen home hub, a possible homeOS platform, and modest Apple TV and HomePod Mini updates; Apple has not confirmed those products or features.
Apple is scheduled to open its “Welcome Home” event in New York on Oct. 13 at 9 a.m. ET, and reporting by The Verge points to a focus on smart home products. Expected announcements include a touchscreen home hub, updates to Apple TV and HomePod Mini, and possibly a new software platform called homeOS; Apple has not confirmed the rumored products or specifications.
The headline product may be a dedicated Apple home hub, expanding beyond the Home app that currently lets users manage connected devices. The Verge, citing Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman, reports that the device could have a roughly 6-inch square touchscreen and work either on a wall mount or on a tabletop stand. Possible names mentioned in the report include HomeView, HomePad and Apple Home Hub, with HomeView identified by Gurman as a likely choice. None of those names has been confirmed by Apple.
The rumored hub could use voice or facial recognition to show information relevant to the person using it, such as contacts and calendar appointments. The report says an iPhone could provide an additional identification step to protect personal information. It also says the device may run homeOS, a software platform that could combine smart home controls with Apple services and apps. The Verge attributed the description of the interface as a “mashup of iOS, tvOS and watchOS” to Gurman.
Apple TV and HomePod Mini may receive processor updates rather than redesigns, according to the same report. Rumors point to support for Siri AI, with the Apple TV potentially gaining an integrated microphone and a remote with a speaker to help users locate it. The HomePod Mini could also come in new colors, including green and pink. Both products are reportedly expected to use Apple’s N1 chip, but those details remain unverified. The report also says Apple could discuss smart home devices from partners such as LG, including locks and thermostats.
A Dedicated Hub Could Expand Apple Home
A dedicated screen for home controls would give Apple a more visible role in managing connected devices than a phone-based app alone. If the reported hub and homeOS arrive, users could potentially access household controls, calls and personal information from a fixed place in the home, while Apple could connect its services more directly to smart home routines.
The rumored updates also matter to existing Apple customers. A faster Apple TV or improved Siri controls could change how users interact with televisions and speakers, while support for partner devices could determine how much choice people have beyond Apple hardware. But the practical impact will depend on the products Apple actually announces, their prices, compatibility and software support—details not established by pre-event reporting.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Apple’s Smart Home Plans So Far
Apple’s current approach to home control has centered on the Home app and products such as HomePod speakers and Apple TV. The rumored hub would represent a more purpose-built interface for household controls. The Verge reports that the HomePod Mini has not received a hardware update since its announcement on Oct. 13, 2020, while Apple TV’s last hardware refresh was in 2022.
The report describes homeOS as a possibility, not a confirmed Apple product. It says a trademark application may have been filed through an entity called Home Operations Suite LLC, which the report links to Apple. A trademark filing alone would not confirm a launch, the platform’s features or its final name. The Verge also said the long-rumored touchscreen MacBook was not expected at this event, citing Gurman’s expectation that it would debut later in October.
““looks like a mashup of iOS, tvOS and watchOS””
— Mark Gurman, as quoted by The Verge
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Rumored Features Await Apple’s Confirmation
Apple has not confirmed the hub’s existence, name, design or price, nor whether it will introduce homeOS. The reported screen size, recognition features and iPhone-based identity check come from pre-event reporting and could change or be absent from the final products.
It is also unclear whether Apple TV and HomePod Mini will receive the rumored processor, N1 chip, microphone, remote speaker or new colors. The extent of any LG partnership—and whether partner devices will support the reported proximity and setup features—has not been established. The event’s full product lineup, availability dates, pricing and regional availability remain unknown before Apple’s presentation.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Watch for Product and Pricing Details
Apple’s scheduled presentation on Oct. 13 at 9 a.m. ET is the next milestone. The company’s announcements should clarify whether a home hub or homeOS is coming, which Apple TV and HomePod Mini changes are real, and whether LG or other partners will feature in the rollout.
After the event, product pages and release information will establish prices, order dates, availability and compatibility. Until Apple provides those details, the reported specifications and product names should be treated as expectations rather than confirmed announcements.
smart home devices compatible with Apple
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Key Questions
When is Apple’s Welcome Home event?
It is scheduled for Oct. 13, 2026, at 9 a.m. ET in New York, according to the source report.
Is Apple releasing a smart home hub?
A touchscreen home hub is among the products expected by The Verge, but Apple has not confirmed it. Its name, price and release date are not yet known.
What is homeOS?
HomeOS is a rumored software platform that may be designed for smart home controls and Apple services. Apple has not announced the platform or confirmed the name.
Are Apple TV and HomePod Mini getting redesigned?
The report expects modest hardware updates, including new processors, rather than major redesigns. Those changes, along with rumored Siri features and colors, remain unconfirmed.
Source: rss
Fall Picks
fall essentials
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
