Apple is taking another bold step in the smart home arena. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the tech giant is preparing to release a sleek, wall-mounted smart home hub in March 2025, introducing a whole new way to interact with your home devices. This innovative device isn’t just about controlling lights or checking the weather—it’s set to include AI capabilities that could transform the way we live in and interact with our homes.
A New Kind of Hub: Apple’s Entry into Smart Home Control
Expected to be a six-inch touchscreen tablet, Apple’s upcoming smart home hub will offer the functionality and design you’d expect from the company. This device will likely be wall-mounted for convenient, centralized control, serving as an easy-access “command center” for all your smart home appliances. But Apple’s ambitions go far beyond just a control panel. The device is also expected to handle video calls, manage calendars, play music, and much more.
AI at Its Core: The Future of Voice and App Control
The standout feature of Apple’s upcoming smart hub lies in its AI-driven capabilities. Apple is reportedly enhancing Siri with “Apple Intelligence” to create a smarter, more intuitive user experience. This goes beyond simple voice commands. Apple’s new “App Intents” system will allow users to activate and control apps through AI, giving the device a level of responsiveness and automation that other smart hubs haven’t achieved.
The hub will reportedly leverage a new operating system designed specifically for smart home interactions. With AI and voice control at the forefront, users can expect seamless interaction with various apps without even touching the screen. Imagine simply asking it to dim the lights, lock the doors, or check your schedule for the day.
Close-Range Sensors and Apple’s Signature App Suite
As expected from Apple, the hub will feature some cutting-edge technology, including proximity sensors that detect how close you are to the screen. This feature could allow for auto-wake functionality, bringing the display to life as you approach and dimming when you step away. It’s small touches like this that could make the device feel less like a tablet on your wall and more like an intelligent assistant built right into your home.
Apple’s signature apps will be included as well, giving users access to Safari, Apple Music, Notes, and Calendar directly from the device. This versatility, combined with a sleek Apple design, could make this tablet a must-have addition for anyone invested in the Apple ecosystem.
A Compelling Alternative to the Amazon Echo and Google Nest Hubs
In a move that positions Apple squarely against its rivals, the company’s upcoming smart home hub is expected to compete directly with Amazon’s Echo Hub and Google’s Nest Hub. It will likely be priced in a competitive range, somewhere between $100 and $250, making it an accessible option for those who already use smart home devices or are just entering the space.
Yet Apple is also reportedly working on a more advanced, premium option—a smart tablet with a robotic arm that can follow you around the room. This device, aimed at tech enthusiasts who want the latest and greatest, could retail closer to $1,000. With the ability to track your movement, this high-end version would keep the display within view as you move, adding a futuristic touch to home automation.
What This Means for Apple Users and Smart Home Enthusiasts
For Apple users, this new smart home hub represents a major upgrade to how you interact with your devices. With Apple’s latest innovations in AI and voice control, managing your home may soon be as easy as asking Siri to handle the details. The rumored App Intents feature could bring a level of intuitive automation that makes this device feel like a true assistant, able to anticipate needs and simplify daily routines.
For those looking to add AI-driven tech to their homes without diving into multiple platforms, Apple’s entry into the smart home space could be exactly what they’ve been waiting for. With competitive pricing, advanced AI, and a variety of features packed into a sleek design, this device could redefine what we expect from smart home technology.
As we get closer to the release date, Apple enthusiasts and smart home fans alike can expect even more details about what this hub will bring. If Apple has proven anything, it’s that they know how to take existing technology and make it not only more accessible but also more desirable. The Apple smart home hub could be no exception, giving us one more reason to bring the Apple ecosystem deeper into our daily lives.
So, keep an eye out in 2025—because your home is about to get a little smarter, and a lot more Apple.
