Image: The Apple Post
Apple could officially confirm the launch date for its long-awaited HomePad as soon as next week, with October 13 reportedly set to mark the beginning of the company’s major new push into the smart home.
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports that Apple plans to introduce its new smart home hub on Tuesday, October 13, alongside an updated HomePod mini and new Apple TV. Apple itself has yet to publicly confirm the date or explain how the new products will be announced.
That could change next week. If Apple intends to hold an October 13 event or release a prerecorded presentation, the company could announce it several days beforehand, potentially giving customers their first official confirmation that HomePad is coming.
The Apple Post previously noted that Apple announced both its October 2021 “Unleashed” event and October 2023 “Scary Fast” event six days before they took place. Following that pattern would put an announcement around Wednesday, October 7.
There is no guarantee Apple will hold a conventional event. The company has increasingly used Apple Newsroom announcements for hardware launches, including its three-day run of Mac announcements in October 2024.
HomePad, however, would give Apple considerably more to explain than a routine hardware refresh. The device is expected to represent an entirely new product category, built around a roughly six-inch square touchscreen, Siri AI, smart home controls, FaceTime, music, photos and personalized information for different members of a household.
Bloomberg reports that Apple is preparing both a tabletop model, featuring a display mounted above a speaker base, and a version designed to be mounted on a wall.
The product is also expected to introduce a new software experience for the home. The Apple Post reported this week that the operating system, widely referred to as homeOS, is expected to combine clocks, photos, widgets, apps and Home controls with an interface built heavily around Apple’s new Siri AI technology.
There are already signs that Apple’s retail operation is preparing for something. Apple Stores have reportedly received confidential boxes carrying instructions not to open them until October 8. The shipments are believed to contain visual merchandising materials for Apple’s upcoming products.
That makes next week particularly important. An event invitation or teaser around October 7, followed by retail preparations beginning October 8, would fit neatly with the reported October 13 launch.
If Apple instead chooses not to hold an event, October 13 could simply bring a series of Apple Newsroom announcements introducing HomePad, HomePod mini 2 and the next Apple TV 4K.
Either way, the wait for official HomePad details may now be measured in days. October 13 remains the date to watch, with next week potentially providing the first confirmation directly from Apple.