All-new Apple smart home hub no longer expected to launch this year

Apple’s rumored new smart home hub, previously expected to launch by the end of this year, has reportedly been delayed—likely due to setbacks involving Siri, its core software feature.

According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the device—internally codenamed J490—relies heavily on Apple’s next-generation Siri. The updated voice assistant is designed to tap into personal data and on-screen content to handle more complex commands. However, Apple has delayed the rollout of those Siri features, which were initially promised as part of iOS 18.

As a result, Gurman now expects the smart home device to launch in 2026, in line with the revised Siri timeline.

He previously described the device as potentially Apple’s “most significant release of the year.” It is said to resemble a smaller and more affordable iPad, intended for smart home control, FaceTime calls, and general task management.