TECH NEWS – The former head of Apple’s car project is now leading this initiative, and the Cupertino giant has reassigned a number of employees to support development. Among its upcoming products, Apple is reportedly preparing a smart home hub equipped with an iPad-style display, indicating the company’s ambitions in the home assistant space. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman shared fresh insights on how this device might integrate into Apple’s ecosystem and whether it will be priced as a mid-range or premium offering. The introduction of Apple Intelligence has unlocked new product categories—prior to this, the utility of such a smart assistant would have been far more limited.
In his latest Power On newsletter, Gurman claimed that Apple aims to release the tablet-robot between 2026 and 2027. This would mark a new product category, fitting neatly into Apple’s broader strategy for a “product renaissance” in 2027. That strategy also includes a new iPhone designed for the company’s 20th anniversary, which recently made headlines. Design-wise, the smart hub will reportedly feature an iPad-like screen mounted on a robotic limb—likely an articulating arm—adding flexibility for interaction and positioning. Earlier rumors pointed to a hybrid between a HomePod and an iPad, and Gurman’s description strongly supports that speculation.
The device will integrate Apple Intelligence, meaning voice control will likely handle most of the functionality. It is also intended to serve as a centralized hub for home automation, syncing all smart devices under one roof. Apple will pair this with an updated version of HomeOS to simplify user control. The device will come with front-facing cameras designed for FaceTime video calls, using its large display to enhance communication.
There’s also speculation about iMessage support, since the larger display makes it ideal for combining communication tools in one place. But how much will Apple charge for it? Gurman estimates the price around $1,000, which could translate to roughly 600,000 forints in Hungary. Apple has appointed Kevin Lynch—former head of the Apple Watch and Apple Car divisions—to oversee the project, suggesting a strong focus on advanced hardware integration. Still, nothing is official just yet!
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