Apple has achieved remarkable success with its range of hardware products, including PCs, smartphones, and smartwatches; however, the tech giant has yet to significantly impact the smart home market. Its HomePod speakers and various Apple TV set-top boxes enjoy a loyal user base but pale in comparison to the more successful offerings from competing brands in this space.
Nevertheless, as reported by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman in his weekly Power On newsletter, Apple is gearing up for a more aggressive entry into the smart home sector. Gurman notes that personnel from Apple’s discontinued electric vehicle project have transitioned to a newly formed Home Ecosystem team.
The update indicates that Apple is working on a proprietary homeOS tailored for its forthcoming smart home devices, which will likely be rooted in the architecture of Apple’s existing tvOS, utilized in its Apple TV products.
Among the anticipated new smart home offerings is a display device described by Gurman as an “affordable iPad-like screen.”This gadget is expected to stream content from the Apple TV app, facilitate FaceTime calls, allow web browsing, and support accessing apps such as Notes and Calendar.
Gurman suggests that this device will be priced competitively, prompting some homeowners to consider purchasing multiple units to distribute throughout their homes. However, specific details regarding its launch timeline remain undisclosed.
The same source hints that a more premium smart home device will follow, expected to retail around $1,000. This device will feature a touchscreen mounted on a robotic arm, offering capabilities like video conferencing, home security monitoring, and additional functionalities. Again, no release date has been provided for this product.
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