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Apple is scheduled to hold its “Welcome Home” event in New York on October 13, 2026, with smart home products expected to be the focus. The Verge’s preview says Apple may introduce a touchscreen home hub and homeOS, alongside updated Apple TV and HomePod Mini models; those product details remain unconfirmed.
Apple is scheduled to open its “Welcome Home” event in New York on October 13 at 9 a.m. ET, with smart home announcements expected to lead the program. The Verge’s preview, updated October 11 with additional reporting from Mark Gurman’s Power On newsletter, points to a possible touchscreen home hub, a new software platform called homeOS, and refreshed Apple TV and HomePod Mini devices. Apple has not confirmed those rumored products or features.
The headline possibility is a dedicated Apple smart home hub, expanding beyond the Home app that the company currently uses to manage connected devices. According to Gurman, the device could have a 6-inch square touchscreen designed either for wall mounting or for a table or countertop. A countertop version is reportedly being developed with a screen on an arm connected to a rounded base. The product’s name is unsettled: names floated in reports include HomeView, HomePad and Apple Home Hub, with Gurman reportedly favoring HomeView.
The hub is also rumored to identify the person using it through voice or facial recognition, then show personal information such as contacts and calendar appointments. A secondary check through an iPhone may be available to protect access to that data. The Verge says the device reportedly would not offer an App Store, a distinction that could make it more focused on household controls than on functioning as a wall-mounted iPad.
Apple may also introduce homeOS, a software platform reportedly designed for the hub and smart home tasks. Gurman has described its interface as a mix of elements from iOS, tvOS and watchOS. Rumored features include controls for devices such as thermostats and smart locks, FaceTime, and Apple apps including Music, Podcasts, News, Reminders and Notes, as well as Siri. These details, like the platform’s name and existence, have not been confirmed by Apple.
Apple’s Push Into Home Controls
A dedicated hub could give Apple customers a single, always-available place to control smart home devices, rather than relying mainly on a phone app, voice commands or separate product screens. If the reported personal profiles and household controls appear, the device could also tie home automation to Apple’s services and accounts. That would matter to people deciding whether to build a smart home around Apple’s ecosystem, though the event preview does not establish which devices or third-party products will work with the rumored hub.
Potential updates to Apple TV and HomePod Mini would have a more incremental impact. Faster processors could support newer Siri capabilities and improve responsiveness, while a built-in microphone on Apple TV, if included, could offer another way to use voice control. For existing owners, however, the reports suggest the external designs may stay the same. The details announced by Apple will determine whether the changes are meaningful upgrades or mainly internal refreshes.
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From Home App to Home Hub
Apple has so far relied primarily on its Home app to let people manage compatible smart home products. The expected hub would represent a move toward dedicated home hardware, but that step remains a reported plan rather than an announced product. The Verge says Apple may use the event to present both the device and software intended to support it.
The preview describes the HomePod Mini as due for its first hardware update since its announcement on October 13, 2020, and Apple TV as due for a hardware refresh after its 2022 update. Rumors point to new processors for both, with possible Siri-related improvements. The HomePod Mini may also come in additional colors, including green and pink. The Verge reports that both products could use Apple’s N1 chip, with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 6.0 support; these specifications are not confirmed.
Apple may also refer to partner devices that work with HomeKit or the rumored homeOS platform. The Verge cites reports of LG smart home products, including deadbolts and thermostats, with features such as NFC-based proximity prompts and tap-to-set-up pairing. The extent of any partner presentation is unclear, and the preview cautions that Apple may not give those companies much of the event’s spotlight.
“The homeOS interface reportedly “looks like a mashup of iOS, tvOS and watchOS.””
— Mark Gurman, as described by The Verge
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Rumors Await Apple’s Confirmation
Apple has not confirmed the event’s product lineup, the existence or name of a home hub, or a homeOS launch. The suggested screen size, mounting options, identity features and app support come from reporting cited by The Verge, not from Apple’s announcement. It is also unclear whether the hub will be available immediately, what it might cost, which countries will receive it, and what smart home standards or accessories it will support.
The same caution applies to Apple TV and HomePod Mini. A new processor, N1 chip, added colors, built-in microphone and speaker-equipped remote are reported possibilities, not confirmed specifications. The Verge also says a long-rumored touchscreen MacBook is not expected at this event, citing Gurman’s report that it would debut later in October; Apple has not verified that timing.
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The October 13 Product Reveal
The next firm milestone is Apple’s scheduled event in New York on October 13 at 9 a.m. ET. Apple’s announcements should clarify whether the company is introducing a dedicated hub, whether homeOS is real and how any new hardware will work with existing Home app devices. Until the presentation, reported names, features and specifications should be treated as unconfirmed.
After the event, availability, pricing, compatibility and software rollout details will help show how much of the reported smart home plan is ready for customers. Apple has not yet confirmed those details in the source material.
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Key Questions
When is Apple’s Welcome Home event?
Apple’s event is scheduled for October 13, 2026, at 9 a.m. ET in New York.
What products are expected at the event?
The Verge expects smart home announcements, including a possible touchscreen hub, rumored homeOS software, and refreshed Apple TV and HomePod Mini models. Apple has not confirmed this lineup.
What is the rumored Apple home hub?
Reports describe a possible 6-inch touchscreen device for wall or countertop use, intended to control smart home devices and show personal information. Its name and specifications remain unconfirmed.
Will Apple announce a touchscreen MacBook?
The Verge’s preview says one is not expected at this event, citing Mark Gurman’s report that it may debut later in October. Apple has not confirmed that schedule.
Are the Apple TV and HomePod Mini upgrades confirmed?
No. New processors and other changes are reported possibilities. Apple has not confirmed refreshed models, their specifications or release dates.
Source: rss
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