New information about Apple’s next suspected product category: “Home devices” could hit the market as early as 2025. As financial news agency Bloomberg wrote over the weekend, it should be a Command Center for Smart Home Act, which will be equipped with a new operating system called HomeOS. The device will be compatible with hundreds of HomeKit devices from the start — including switches, lamps, fans, thermostats, and other hardware — but will reportedly not have its own app store, at least initially. This is believed to be because the demand for app offerings for the Vision Pro, Apple Watch or Apple TV is also comparatively low.
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Safari browser and 6-inch display
However, Apple will remove several important core apps, including Notes, Calendar, and the Safari browser. The interface should be similar to standby mode on the iPhone. Bloomberg also writes that the square display is reportedly only “about 6 inches” in size – smaller than the 8.3-inch iPad Mini. Apple will emphasize AI functions, including the App Intents framework required for Apple Intelligence operation of apps.
Apple wants to use the device for its own ecosystem to compete with competitors like Amazon’s Echo Hub or Google’s Nest Hub — but it also needs to be able to control the Matter device. Apple is said to have already laid the early groundwork with an improved Control Center in iOS 18. In “Home Devices”, there will be, among other things, a configurable home screen.
Microsoft Authenticator as beta for Vision ProAdditional features in “Home Devices”
When it comes to colors, Apple is reportedly planning silver and black tones, as seen on the MacBook Pro. There’s an integrated camera for FaceTime, a speaker, and a proximity sensor that changes the display depending on whether you’re standing in front of the device. Apple is also planning its own base for “home devices” with an integrated (better) speaker.
The “Home Device” should also display images from the linked cameras. The price becomes interesting: Apple is clearly planning to sell multiple devices to users. They can already replicate the experience of such hardware with an entry-level iPad (available for 400 euros from the manufacturer) and a wall mount – although the Apple intelligence will be missing.
(B.Sc.)
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