Apple is reportedly preparing its retail stores for a major smart home product push.
Mark Gurman reported in Bloomberg’s Power On newsletter that Apple’s retail design teams are reworking the store sections known as Avenues, the wall displays used to showcase accessories and devices that sit outside the core iPhone, iPad, and Mac ranges.
According to Gurman, the scale of the rearrangement points to something beyond routine updates. He links the extra space to the long-rumoured Home Hub, a new device category expected to serve as a central point for Apple’s smart home network.
The HomePod mini update is expected to focus on internal upgrades rather than a visual redesign, and it would add support for Apple’s Siri AI features alongside possible upgrades to Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 connectivity for a faster home network.
The Apple TV 4K is tipped to gain an internal chip upgrade, potentially to the A17 Pro or newer, a shift that would enable Siri AI support without changing its external design, while separate leaks point to a new Siri Remote whose exact changes remain unknown.
The Home Hub is believed to arrive in two physical forms, one a display sat on a half-dome base and the other built to attach magnetically to wall mounts and plinths. Rumours describe a 7-inch square screen that controls smart home devices, displays notes and calendars, and doubles as a digital picture frame.
Beyond that screen, the Home Hub is also tipped to work as a home intercom, a way to check security camera footage, and a control point for smart locks, with a built-in camera that could support FaceTime calls as well.
Apple has not confirmed pricing, availability, or a launch date for the Home Hub, HomePod mini, or Apple TV refresh, with further details expected to emerge closer to their anticipated autumn release window later in the year.
