Here’s what Apple’s new HomePad smart home hub will reportedly do

Apple’s long-awaited smart home hub is reportedly launching on October 13, and unlike a conventional HomePod, the new device is designed to become a visual and intelligent control center for the entire home.

Often referred to as HomePad, the device is expected to combine a touchscreen, speaker, camera, smart home controls, Apple services, and the company’s new Siri AI assistant in a single product.

According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Siri will be the defining feature of Apple’s new home hub.

The assistant is expected to use personal context to find information stored across a user’s Apple devices and accounts.

That could allow someone to ask the HomePad to find a particular photo, play a song or podcast that another person sent them previously, or retrieve information from apps without manually searching for it.

Siri AI is also expected to perform more precise actions in apps including Notes, Reminders, and Calendar.

For more complicated requests, users will reportedly be able to access the Siri AI app directly through the HomePad’s interface.

The device is expected to serve as a central dashboard for the Apple Home ecosystem.

Users will be able to control connected lights, locks, thermostats, cameras, and other compatible accessories while viewing their status from the touchscreen.

Support for Apple’s Home platform should also allow the hub to participate in automations and work with Matter-compatible smart home products.

Communication will be another major part of the device.

A built-in camera is expected to support FaceTime video calls, while Apple’s Intercom feature will allow messages to be sent between HomePods and other compatible Apple devices around the home.

Media playback will bring together music, podcasts, photos, and other Apple services.

The roughly seven-inch square display is expected to have its own home screen with widgets and customizable clock faces, borrowing interface ideas from the iPhone, Apple Watch, Apple TV, and StandBy.

One of the HomePad’s most unusual features could be its ability to recognize different members of a household.

The camera and other sensors are reportedly designed to identify who is standing in front of the device and automatically show that person’s information.

That could mean calendars, notes, reminders, and other personal content change depending on who approaches the screen.

The interface could also adjust based on how far someone is standing from the HomePad, making information larger and easier to see from across a room.

Apple reportedly intends customers to use multiple HomePad units around their homes.

One version will sit on a half-dome speaker base, while another is being designed to attach to walls using a magnetic mounting system.

The HomePad will also work closely with iPhone for setup and management.

Apple’s goal appears to be a device that sits somewhere between a HomePod, an iPad, and a traditional smart home control panel, but with Siri AI handling much of the interaction.

The company hasn’t announced the product, confirmed the HomePad name, or disclosed pricing.

If Bloomberg’s latest reporting is accurate, those unanswered questions could finally be resolved on October 13.