Apple has long been a marginal player in smart home hardware compared with Google and Amazon, relying mostly on two HomePod models and Apple TV. But Bloomberg reports the company is gearing up to expand that lineup with a battery-powered home camera and a new smart-home hub.
Battery camera designed like Ring, tied to HomeKit
The new camera is said to resemble Amazon’s Ring devices and will integrate with HomeKit. It will include a battery capable of running the device for several months without being plugged into an outlet.
Multiple cameras, a video doorbell with face unlock
Apple is reportedly developing several camera models and other home-security products, including a video doorbell that can unlock doors using face recognition. The moves are clearly aimed at taking on Amazon’s Ring and Google’s Nest.
7-inch smart hub with a speaker and personalized screens
Separately, Apple has been testing a dedicated home hub with a 7-inch display and built-in speaker. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman describes the device as a square with thin black or white bezels, rounded corners and a hemispherical base.
Face-aware, app-lite experience
The hub’s front camera should detect who approaches and surface user-specific content and features. It won’t run third-party App Store apps, but Apple apps like Calendar, Photos, Music, Reminders and Notes will be supported. The hub is expected to be voice-first despite its touch screen, running a bespoke operating system with widgets for Apple apps and built-in Siri.
Siri gets an AI overhaul
Apple is reportedly making Siri central to the hub and developing a new, AI-powered version of the assistant that leverages large language models. The goal is for Siri to incorporate personal data to deliver a richer, more personalized experience.
Timing and backend choices
Bloomberg says Apple could roll out the AI-powered Siri as early as next spring, with a visually refreshed Siri for iPhone and iPad possibly arriving in 2026. Apple is testing an internal large language model for Siri while also exploring integrations with external providers such as OpenAI and Anthropic. No final decision on which model to use has been made.
Release windows and uncertainty
Apple reportedly plans to announce the smart home hub around mid-2026 and expects to introduce the home camera sometime next year. Given Apple’s history of delaying smart-home initiatives, those timelines are not guaranteed.
