Apple is set to make its move into the smart home market with a new wall-mounted device designed to control appliances, handle video calls, and leverage AI to navigate apps.
According to a report by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the device, code-named J490, is expected to launch as early as March 2025. Apple plans to position the device as a “command center for the home,” featuring its new Apple Intelligence AI platform.
Vision for Smart Home Growth
Apple’s CEO Tim Cook is betting on this device to strengthen the company’s presence in the smart home segment, where it has been outpaced by major competitors like Amazon and Alphabet Inc. Cook has made this device a priority, enlisting Apple’s engineering and design teams to bring it to market after more than three years of development, the report noted.
Key Features and Specifications
Gurman shared the following key features and specifications of the device:
- Display and Size: A 6-inch screen, resembling a square iPad with a thick bezel, about the size of two iPhones placed side by side.
- Camera and Speakers: Built-in camera for FaceTime calls, internal speakers, and a rechargeable battery.
- Color Options: Silver and black.
- Touch Interface: A blend of the Apple Watch OS and iPhone’s StandBy mode.
- Voice Control: Enhanced by Siri and the new Apple Intelligence AI.
- App Integration: App Intents framework allows precise control of apps and tasks.
- Home Control: Designed for controlling home appliances, interacting with Siri, and conducting intercom sessions via FaceTime.
- Sensors: Proximity sensors adjust display features based on user distance.
The device will run on a new operating system called “Pebble,” which will allow it to display specific information, such as temperature, from a distance, and provide more detailed controls up close.
Users can also customize the home screen with widgets for weather, stock updates, and appointments. A dock for quick app access will further enhance usability. Though Apple initially considered adding an app store, the company has decided to exclude it in this release, Gurman noted.
Smart Home Compatibility and Privacy
The report noted that the device will integrate with Apple’s HomeKit platform, supporting third-party devices like thermostats, lights, and security cameras. Security features will include alerts and footage from compatible smart doorbells and cameras, along with an intercom system for communication between rooms.
Additionally, Apple is exploring its own smart home accessories, such as an indoor security camera with privacy features that could double as a baby monitor, and a sensor-based system to detect room occupancy and adjust functionality, potentially using external wall-mounted sensors.
While this feature may be delayed or canceled, it highlights Apple’s ongoing efforts to innovate in the smart home space, the report added.
Expansion Plans and Future Innovations
According to Gurman’s report, Apple is already planning a premium version of the device, which could cost as much as $1,000. This high-end model is expected to feature a robotic arm for screen mobility and may include an AI-powered companion personality. The display-only version will be priced competitively, likely similar to Amazon’s Echo Show 8 ($150) and Google’s Nest Hub Max ($230).
This standalone device will operate largely independently but will require an iPhone for initial setup and certain functions. Apple’s Handoff feature will also allow users to begin a task on the smart display and continue it seamlessly on their iPhone.
Apple hopes to sell multiple units of the device to consumers, aiming for it to become a daily essential in homes, the report concluded.