Apple will hold an event called "Welcome home." on October 13, the company's worldwide marketing senior vice president, Greg Joswiak, has said. The presentation is set to begin at 9 a.m. US Eastern Daylight Time, which is 10 p.m. Japan time the same day, according to テクノエッジ TechnoEdge.
The outlet reports that the event is expected to feature an entirely new smart display product that has been the subject of recent rumors, along with new versions of the Apple TV 4K and the HomePod mini.
Why it matters
Apple has never released a smart display, even though Amazon and Google have sold devices in that category for years under the Echo Show and Nest Hub lines. A launch on October 13 would put Apple into a product segment it has so far left to its rivals, and it would mark a deeper push into the connected home.
The company has been reported to be working on a smart home hub since early 2023, when it was said to be developing a device based on the iPad that could control thermostats, lighting and security systems. That earlier reporting is now widely expected to take shape as a shipping product.
What the rumored smart display may include
The device has been referred to informally as "HomePad." According to the rumors cited by テクノエッジ TechnoEdge, it would carry a roughly six-inch square display and run a new operating system called homeOS. It is also said to include a dashboard similar to the StandBy mode on the iPhone.
Reports describe two versions: one designed to sit on a desk or table, and another meant to be mounted on a wall. The device is expected to use face and voice recognition to change what it shows depending on who is nearby, and it is said to support FaceTime calls, music streaming and control of smart home products.
The hub is not the only hardware hinted at in Apple's own software. In August, code in a macOS 26.7 beta was found to contain references to the new smart home hub as well as to a new HomePod product, which is presumed to be a refreshed HomePod mini, according to テクノエッジ TechnoEdge.
A new Apple TV and a possible LG partnership
A new Apple TV has also been the subject of speculation. In September, reports suggested the next model could use an A19 or A19 Pro chip to support Apple Intelligence and Siri AI, with an updated Siri Remote also in the works.
Separately, rumors have circulated in recent days that Apple is developing smart home products for the home with LG. Those devices are said to carry the LG brand and to be on a different release schedule from Apple's own hardware, so any mention of them during the event may be limited. テクノエッジ TechnoEdge notes that it remains unclear how far Apple will lay out its smart home strategy on October 13.
What to watch: whether Apple confirms the smart display and the homeOS platform, and whether the event reaches beyond hardware into the LG partnership.
