Apple reportedly targets Oct. 13 for smart home hub, HomePod mini and Apple TV launch

Apple is reportedly preparing a broader push into the smart-home category next month.

Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, via 9to5Mac and MacRumors, reports that Apple plans to introduce a group of smart-home products on Tuesday, Oct. 13. The reported lineup includes a long-awaited smart home hub, a new HomePod mini and a new Apple TV.

Siri AI appears to be the common thread

According to MacRumors, the updated HomePod mini and Apple TV are expected to keep their existing designs while adding faster chips to support Siri AI. The HomePod mini is also said to be getting new color options, including pink and green.

The same report says all three announced products are meant to showcase Siri AI, and that may help explain the timing: they were reportedly originally planned for 2024 before slipping to this later launch window.

More home devices are reportedly still in development

The Oct. 13 launch, if it happens as reported, may only be the first phase of Apple’s home plans.

MacRumors says Apple is also working on a privacy-focused home security camera and sensor that can detect which room a person is in without recording video. The outlet also reports that Apple continues to develop a higher-end version of its smart home hub, featuring a 9-inch display mounted on a robotic arm that can swivel 360 degrees.

Apple has not publicly announced these products. But if the reported Oct. 13 event holds, it would mark a more coordinated smart-home rollout than the company has attempted in years, centered on bringing Siri AI into devices already familiar to Apple’s home users.