Apple to Launch HomePad Smart Home Hub on Oct. 13, Bloomberg Reports

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported that the device, which has been referred to as the HomePad, will be revealed alongside a new HomePod mini and an upgraded Apple TV. The Verge, citing Gurman's report, said all three products are set to showcase Siri AI, Apple's overhauled AI-powered assistant, with the smart home hub serving as the centerpiece. The hub is a new product category for Apple.

An earlier report from the same outlet had said only that the device was expected to launch as soon as October; the latest report specifies Oct. 13. The two accounts differ slightly in wording: Bloomberg described the date as a launch, while The Verge reported that the hub will be revealed that day. Neither report disclosed pricing or further availability details.

The hub will reportedly feature a 6-inch display that can be mounted on a wall or placed on a countertop. Gurman reported the device is "about as thick as an iPhone" and has bezels similar to older iPads. Its design is said to echo the iMac G4, with a round metal base that houses speakers and microphones and a metal arm holding up the screen, which can tilt. Apple will reportedly sell a second, wall-mounted version with a thinner base underneath for the speakers and microphones.

The device will use a USB-C power supply and does not have an internal battery, according to the report. It will be available in "Apple's standard gray aluminum finish."

The operating system built around Siri AI for the hub is said to lean into iPad-like apps, with the Messages app reportedly using a two-panel layout. According to the report, the hub will also support controlling other smart devices, video calls, music playback, photo slideshows and intercom-style calls.