Apple to launch smart-home hub J490 on 13 Oct, reports Bloomberg News

Apple plans to enter the smart-home hub market on 13 Oct with a device code-named J490, according to Bloomberg News. The company will also unveil an updated HomePod mini and a new TV set-top box. The hub will feature a 6-inch display and personalized user recognition.

Apple is planning to make its long-delayed push into the smart-home market on 13 October with a new hub code-named J490, Bloomberg News reported on 30 September, citing people familiar with the matter. The company also plans to announce the first update to the HomePod mini since the device's 2020 debut and its first new TV set-top box since 2022, the report said. Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The upcoming home hub will take the form of a roughly 6-inch square display, with versions that can be mounted on a wall or placed on a countertop. It is similar to Amazon's Echo and Google Home devices. The hub will recognise individual household members and provide personalised content and responses based on their data and accounts, the report said.

Longtime hardware chief John Ternus took over as Apple's CEO earlier in September, with analysts expecting his tenure to bring renewed emphasis on the company's core strength in devices, engineering and focus on fusing AI capabilities into existing products. Apple has been seeking to expand its presence in the smart-home market while remaining anchored by its core iPhone business, which serves as the company's flagship product and a key driver of its broader ecosystem.

The new HomePod mini and Apple TV will retain their current designs but include faster processors to support Siri's more powerful AI models, the report said. In June, Apple unveiled a long-delayed overhaul of Siri as part of a broader effort to strengthen its AI capabilities. Apple currently offers the HomePod and HomePod mini as part of its smart-home product lineup, while the Apple TV 4K set-top box is part of its home entertainment lineup.