Apple’s long-awaited smart home hub has reportedly been delayed as the company works to refine the next-generation version of Siri. Originally expected to launch soon, the device is now postponed due to ongoing challenges in rolling out Apple’s upgraded AI-powered assistant.
This week, Apple confirmed that the more advanced and personalized version of Siri, which was first promised as part of the Apple Intelligence suite, is taking longer to develop than initially anticipated. The company now expects to launch these enhanced features sometime next year. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, this delay has also impacted Apple’s planned smart home hub, as the device relies heavily on the updated Siri functionality.
Earlier reports suggested that Apple was preparing to release the smart home hub as early as March 2025, making it one of the company’s next major hardware additions. The device is expected to feature a six-inch touchscreen mounted on a wall, allowing users to make video calls and manage smart home devices using a combination of voice commands and touch controls. While Apple has not officially confirmed details about the device, Gurman’s sources indicate that it would serve as a centralized control system for HomeKit-compatible smart home accessories.
Despite the delay, Apple has reportedly moved forward with internal testing. Select employees have been given access to the smart home hub to test its functionality in real-world settings and provide feedback on performance. This suggests that while the official launch has been pushed back, the device remains a key focus for Apple’s smart home strategy.
The delay raises questions about Apple’s broader AI and smart home ambitions. With competitors like Amazon and Google continuing to expand their smart home ecosystems, Apple’s success in this space will likely depend on how well its AI-driven Siri update enhances the user experience. The company’s commitment to privacy and on-device processing has made AI integration more complex, but also a potential differentiator in the market.
As Apple continues to refine its AI capabilities, the smart home hub is expected to play a central role in expanding the company’s influence in connected home technology. Whether the additional development time leads to a more polished product remains to be seen, but Apple’s focus on delivering a seamless, voice-controlled smart home experience suggests that the wait could be worth it.
