New reports suggest Apple has pushed back the long-awaited launch of its home hub, internally dubbed the HomePad, to September 2026. This is largely because the next-generation version of Siri still isn’t ready.
The news comes from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. The report claims that the hub has reportedly been finished for months. However, it’s heavily tied to Apple’s upcoming AI-powered Siri overhaul, which is still facing reliability issues.
Apple had originally planned to introduce the device as early as spring 2025. However, the company shifted the timeline to spring 2026. This change happened once it became clear that the new Siri features would take longer to finalise.
Now, with those improvements still missing from the iOS 26.4 beta, the company appears to be holding the hardware until the assistant is ready. A September launch would line up with the expected debut of iOS 27, suggesting Apple may introduce the smarter Siri alongside the new device.
The hub itself is designed as a central control point for Apple’s smart home ecosystem. Reports suggest it will feature a 7-inch square display in a design reminiscent of a small iPad, with the option to mount it on a wall or place it on a speaker-style base. It’s expected to handle tasks like controlling connected home devices, making calls, and accessing apps such as Calendar and Reminders.
There are also hints of a more personalised experience. The device reportedly includes a camera with facial recognition, allowing it to recognise who is nearby and surface tailored content depending on the user. In that sense, it could function similarly to smart displays like Amazon’s Echo Show. However, this time it would be with Apple’s ecosystem at the centre.
Unlike the iPad, the hub is not expected to feature a full App Store. Instead, it will run a tvOS-based interface with Apple apps arranged in circular icons, similar to those found on the Apple Watch.
The delay highlights the challenges Apple has faced in delivering its promised Apple Intelligence upgrades for Siri. The company first previewed the new assistant features in June 2024, promising improvements such as deeper personalisation and onscreen awareness. It also promised the ability to perform more complex tasks across apps.
If the current timeline holds, those features, along with Apple’s broader smart home ambitions, may not fully arrive until iOS 27 later this year.
