Apple’s rumoured smart home hub device now has a launch date of the fall of 2026, according to MacRumors’ leaker Kosutami.
Clearance: HomePad at Fall. https://t.co/ZjCHADX8U5
— Kosutami (@Kosutami_Ito) March 5, 2026
Apple has been working on the device for several years, with the goal for it to serve a similar purpose as the Echo Hub and the Google Hub: the ability to be a centralized location for controlling smart home products, listening to music/podcasts, making video calls, and getting “glanceable” information (weather, calendar, etc).
The device is also expected to have a 7-inch display and a front-facing camera. MacRumurs noted that there may be a version of the device that can be mounted on the wall, while the other has a speaker base that can be placed on a desktop or countertop.
Interestingly, the HomePad has built-in sensors that detect when someone is near it, and the displayed content changes based on who is present. It will also rely heavily on voice commands, and Siri could even have a personified look on the device, with one look described as “a version of the Mac Finder icon.”
The device was originally rumoured to launch in early 2025, but delays with Apple intelligence originally pushed it to early 2026, and now to fall 2026. This rumoured release date suggests it could debut with the upcoming iPhone 18 in September or with the redesigned MacBook Pro models in October.
The rumoured price for the HomePad is around US$350 (approx. C$475.64).
Image credit: Shutterstock
Source: MacRumors
