Apple Stores are preparing a significant smart home push this autumn, with visitors set to see more connected home products on display as the company readies updates including a new HomePod mini and the long-rumoured Home Hub.
Speculation has long pointed towards changes across Apple’s smart home range, and those updates now appear ready to arrive. Alongside the new hardware, the company is reportedly organising a dedicated retail effort to showcase the devices in its outlets.
Teams responsible for retail store layouts are said to be making room to put new products on show. The changes affect the Avenues, the wall sections at the edges of each store used to promote accessories and devices that sit outside the flagship iPhone, iPad and Mac ranges.
The Avenues are being rearranged and expanded so that all of Apple’s newly launched items are on display. While a refresh ahead of autumn launches is routine, the scale of the work reportedly suggests a genuinely new product is being introduced rather than simple updates to existing lines.
Making Room for the Home Hub
The extensive changes are believed to be aimed at accommodating the Home Hub, a device that would sit at the centre of a smart home network. Because it represents an entirely new product category, Apple is expected to create a fresh Avenue section for it, with a dedicated space demonstrating how the Home Hub works, including its interface and how it fits into the wider home ecosystem.
The Home Hub is thought to take two forms. One version features a display mounted on a half-dome base, while the other attaches magnetically to wall mounts and plinths. A seven-inch square screen is expected to manage a range of smart home functions, including controlling other devices connected to the network.
The screen would also surface information such as notes, calendars and itineraries, and double as a picture frame. Additional functions are said to include acting as an intercom, viewing security camera footage and handling smart locks. A built-in camera would allow the device to be used for FaceTime calls.
HomePod mini and Apple TV Updates
The HomePod mini is expected to receive a specification update rather than a redesign, chiefly delivering improved processing to support Siri AI. Possible upgrades to Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 are also anticipated.
The Apple TV 4K refresh is likewise expected to be an internal upgrade. A move to a chip such as the A17 Pro or newer would enable it to work with Siri AI. A leak has also pointed to a new Siri Remote, though the specific changes remain unknown.
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Image: appleinsider.com
