Cupertino-based tech giant Apple was supposed to introduce its first smart home hub, rumored to be named the Home Hub, later this year. After a multitude of Siri hiccups and delays, recent rumours suggested that the product would launch with iOS 18.4, which was recently introduced. However, a new report from a renowned Apple analyst now claims that the device has been delayed ‘indefinitely,’ due to Apple's setbacks in its AI development for Siri.
Apple’s Home Hub release timeline: Key details
According to a recent newsletter from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, the purported Home Hub has been postponed from this year due to the machine relying on a number of updates to Siri. Originally, these updates for Siri were expected to arrive with the latest iOS 18.4 update. However, with their release still pending, the Home Hub’s arrival has been postponed.
Moreover, it is said to rely on a new version of App Intents, giving Siri more control over apps and functions, and using a user's screen and personal data to fulfill queries. Despite the delay, the Home Hub is still an active project at Apple. Previously, a June developer beta update for iOS 18.6 contained code referencing a display that could be associated with the Home Hub, hinting at its existence.
The device is also tipped to get an A18 chipset and to feature a 6 to 7-inch square display on top of it. With the more capable version of Siri now pushed back, the timeline for the smart home hub has also shifted, with Gurman pointing to a 2026 launch that would align with the eventual release of the new Siri.
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