Supplier still believes in Apple's “Home Hub” for 2025 – or HomePod with screen

After speculation about postponing a new Smart Home hardware from Apple due to software problems in the Siri AI functions, a usually well-informed analyst has now commented on the subject. Like Ming-Chi Kuo from the Taiwanese investment house TF International Securities on Wednesday wrote on xit stays with a rollout up to the 3rd quarter. He assumes mass production according to Apple's developer conference World Wide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June.

With or without speakers?

It remains confusing that Kuo always speaks of a “HomePod with display” when it comes to the information, but other well -known rumor chefs like Mark Gurman von Bloomberg talk about a “Home Hub” that is more reminiscent of a smaller iPad. It is conceivable, however, that it is one and the same hardware that is implemented via a dock with an integrated loudspeaker, for example. At the moment, the HomePod is only equipped with colored LEDs, neither the large HomePod 2 nor the HomePod Mini have a real screen. Interacting is carried out by language, start/stop command and the possibility of changing the volume via plus and minus keys.

The Home Hub is also supposed to offer Apple Intelligence for the first time, which has so far completely lacked the HomePod. Features such as video conferences with Facetime and messaging options are also considered. Apple supposedly does not provide an app store. The device should be about as large as a larger iPhone, but possibly in a rectangular form. You should also be able to attach it to walls to control your smart home.

Wait (also) for iOS 19

According to Kuo, Apple intended to put the device in mass production in the first quarter, but then met “software development problems”. It is said to be not only about Apple Intelligence, but also the HomePod interface, which should match new iOS versions-19 larger conversions are intended for iOS.

“This coordination is essential for the seamless integration of new products into the Apple ecosystem,” Kuo writes. That would mean that Apple is waiting with the release by September, because until then iOS 19 is probably available if the group stays on its usual schedule. Apple had recently had to admit that important new Siri functions such as context recording will only be released in one year.