Apple’s long-rumored push into the smart home market appears to be moving closer, with new references in the latest macOS Tahoe 26.7 Release Candidate pointing to several unreleased home products currently in development.
As MacRumors reports, the software includes references to multiple upcoming home accessories, including Apple’s expected Home Hub, a possible new HomePod mini, a mysterious device with sensors, and the company’s rumored tabletop robot.
The most notable references are for J490 and J491, which are believed to be two versions of Apple’s upcoming Home Hub. Previous reports have suggested Apple is developing a smart display-style device for the home, designed to act as a central place for controlling HomeKit accessories, using Siri, making FaceTime calls, viewing widgets, and accessing Apple Intelligence features.
One version of the device is believed to include a base, making it suitable for placing on a table or kitchen counter, while the second version could be designed to mount on a wall. That would give Apple two ways to position the Home Hub inside the home, either as a fixed control panel or a more traditional countertop device.
The software also includes a reference to Pebble, which Bloomberg has previously said is Apple’s internal codename for homeOS, the operating system expected to power the Home Hub and other future smart home devices. The appearance of the codename in Apple’s latest software adds further evidence that the company is continuing to build out a dedicated smart home platform.
Another reference points to B525, believed to be a next-generation HomePod mini. The current HomePod mini carries the internal codename B520, suggesting Apple could be preparing a refreshed version of its smaller smart speaker. A new HomePod mini has been rumored for launch as soon as this autumn, potentially alongside a new Apple TV.
Apple is also continuing to work on more experimental home devices. The macOS 26.7 code reportedly includes a reference to J229, an unreleased home accessory that has appeared in previous software updates. Earlier reports have described the device as having multiple sensors, the ability to detect alarm sounds, and the ability to capture images.
That could point to Apple’s rumored home security camera, although it is also possible that J229 is a companion product designed to work with the Home Hub or another future smart home accessory.
The leak also includes a reference to HomeAccessory17,3, known internally as J595, which is believed to be linked to Apple’s rumored tabletop robot. That device is expected to be more advanced than the standard Home Hub, with reports suggesting Apple has been testing a display attached to a moving arm that can follow users around, turn during FaceTime calls, and offer a more interactive Siri experience.
Several colors are also mentioned for an unreleased home accessory, including Rose Pink, Silver, Space Gray, and Starlight. It is not yet clear whether these colors are for the new HomePod mini, the Home Hub, or another device entirely.
One of the more interesting discoveries is a reference to audio accessory visual reasoning, which could suggest Apple is testing ways for future home devices to understand their surroundings using cameras, sensors, or Apple Intelligence. That would fit with wider reports that Apple wants to make Siri and its home products more context-aware.