Apple announces October 13 event to launch new smart home devices

Apple is holding a product launch event on Tuesday, 13 October, marking a major new push into the smart home market.

Apple's marketing chief, Greg Joswiak, confirmed the 'Welcome Home' launch date in a post on X, formerly Twitter. While the company has not officially detailed the product lineup, it has sent invitations to members of the media for an 'Apple Experience' in Tribeca, New York, starting at 9:00 a.m. local time, where attendees are expected to get hands-on time with the new hardware.

The new smart home hub

The centrepiece of the launch is expected to be an entirely new category of device for Apple: a dedicated smart home hub. According to details published by Bloomberg, the device behaves like a cross between an iPad and a HomePod. It is rumoured to feature a six-inch square display designed to control household appliances, make FaceTime calls, show widgets like calendars, and display weather forecasts.

Apple reportedly hopes users will install multiple hubs throughout their homes. Two versions are in development: a simple model meant for wall-mounting, and a more premium option—expected to cost around $350—featuring a hemispherical speaker base reminiscent of the classic iMac G4. Built-in cameras and presence sensors will allow the hub to recognise who is in the room and display a personalised interface. Like Apple's other recent devices, Siri and voice commands will drive the user experience, powered by the company's new artificial intelligence tools.

Refreshed Apple TV and HomePod mini

Alongside the brand-new hub, Apple is expected to refresh its existing home lineup. A new HomePod mini will reportedly arrive with a faster S-series processor to support Siri's AI capabilities, alongside a new N1 chip to improve Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connections.

The Apple TV 4K is also due for an upgrade. It is expected to receive a major performance boost with an A19 or A19 Pro chip, extra RAM, and the same upgraded N1 wireless chip, alongside a redesigned Siri Remote.

There is also a chance Apple could use the event to introduce a new, more water-resistant iPad mini featuring an OLED screen.

What happens next

While this event is dedicated to the home, it may not be Apple's only launch this month. Bloomberg initially reported the 13 October date, but MacRumors has since reported that a second wave of product announcements—likely focusing on upgraded Mac computers—is scheduled for the final week of October.

It remains unclear whether Apple plans to stream a pre-recorded keynote video on 13 October, or if the new smart home devices will simply be announced via press release alongside the physical media event in New York.