Apple will hold a special event on October 13, with the tagline “Welcome Home.” The company has invited media to an Apple Experience in New York City, where it is expected to introduce new products for its smart home ecosystem.
Apple marketing chief Greg Joswiak announced the event on social media. It will begin at 9 AM ET (6:30 PM IST). Apple has not confirmed the products it plans to announce, but reports suggest that the event will focus on a new smart home hub, an updated HomePod mini, and a new Apple TV.
The biggest expected announcement is Apple’s first smart home hub with a display. The device, reportedly known as HomePad, could feature a screen of around six inches and support both tabletop and wall-mounted use.
The hub is expected to bring smart home controls, calendars, photos, music, and video calls to a single device. It could also use a camera or voice recognition to identify household members and show personalized information.
The device is expected to play a key role in Apple’s smart home strategy, competing with products such as Amazon Echo Show and Google Nest Hub. Siri’s AI capabilities could be central to the experience, allowing users to control connected devices and interact with the assistant more naturally.
Apple is also expected to introduce an updated HomePod mini and a new Apple TV 4K. Both devices could receive faster chips to support the company’s newer Siri AI features.
The new HomePod mini may bring internal hardware improvements and new colour options, while the updated Apple TV could offer better performance. Major design changes are not expected for either device.
These updates would help Apple strengthen its smart home ecosystem, where the company has long competed with Amazon and Google. However, Apple has yet to confirm the specifications or features of either product.
Apple is also reportedly working with LG on a range of smart home accessories, including a smart doorbell, door lock, thermostat, and cameras. These products could expand Apple’s Home ecosystem beyond its own speakers, streaming devices, and software.
It remains unclear whether these accessories will be announced during the October 13 event or arrive later.
Apple is also reportedly preparing another hardware launch later in October, with new Macs and iPads expected. However, the October 13 event appears to be focused on smart home products, and Apple has not confirmed any additional launches for that date.
