Apple delays 'HomePad' smart home display until this fall, says rumor
It could launch alongside the new Siri later this year
š Apple has reportedly delayed its upcoming smart home display until later this year
š The rumored āHomePadā might not arrive until September
š¤ The delay is likely due to Apple wanting to time its release with the launch of the next-generation Siri
š Rumors suggest the device has a square display that attaches to a circular speaker base, and can also be mounted to the wall via magnets
š¤·āāļø Itās not clear how much itāll cost yet
Weāve been waiting for Apple to announce its rumored smart home display for some time, and it looks like weāll be waiting a bit longer. Mark Gurman at Bloomberg reports that the much-anticipated āHomePadā has been delayed, this time to this fall, when it could ship alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Fold. The reason? Appleās revamped version of Siri wonāt ship until iOS 27, which will also be released this fall.
Gurman says that Apple originally planned to release the smart home display this month, since the new Siri was supposed to ship with iOS 26.4. However, because Apple is still working on integrating Gemini and revamping the entire experience, the device needed to have a later ship date to avoid a premature experience. It now seems like weāll get the HomePad sometime in the fall, likely in September when Apple has its annual iPhone event.
The smart home display has been finished for some time now, according to Gurman. It reportedly has a square-ish display that magnetically attaches to a circular speaker base, almost resembling an old-school iMac. Gurmanās report mentions that the screen can be removed and placed on a magnetic mount you can attach to your wall, which would add extra versatility to the design. Itāll be able to tell whoās looking at the screen using facial recognition to present contextual information like calendar information, music, news, and more.
Itāll come pre-loaded with a bunch of apps arranged in a way similar to how the Apple Watchās app list looks. Youāll be able to place FaceTime calls, play music, and do other smart home display stuff, similar to Amazonās Echo Show. Itās not clear if third-party apps will be available on the device, or if Apple will restrict it to its own apps.
We donāt know how much the HomePad will cost or if itāll even be called the HomePad, but weāre keeping our eyes peeled for any additional details. Weāll let you know when we know more as we get closer to its rumored autumn launch date.
Max Buondonno is an editor at The Shortcut and co-host of The Shortcut Live. Heās been reporting on the latest consumer technology since 2015, with his work featured on CNN Underscored, ZDNET, How-To Geek, XDA, TheStreet, and more. Follow him on X @LegendaryScoop and Instagram @LegendaryScoop.