During this 2025, we have talked a lot about a HomePod with screenand although it will not be exactly this equipment, we will have a kind of Apple Hub, that is, a control center where we can perform multiple actions.
This device would be designed to home automation our home, That is, control all HomeKit equipment, be it lights, plugs, and even security cameras, thanks to its screen, since even Apple would be thinking of launching its own.
Apple Control Center in 2026
Apple would be planning a launch in 2026 of a new smart home device, a kind of control center with 7 inch screen (although we could see more models in the future). A kind of iPad and HomePod at the same time, or in other words, a HomePod with a screen, as we called it until now. This “home hub” would allow us to control our lights, locks, cameras and other home accessories (as long as they are compatible with HomeKit), in addition to offering video calls with FaceTime and access to applications. There are two versions. One will be mounted on the wall and another will be desktop, similar to a smart speaker with a base, designed to be placed in kitchens or living rooms. That is, an Amazon Echo Show, but with Apple functions, and improved.
The price would be around $350 (possibly about 400 euros), both in one version and another. Therefore, it would cost more than similar products from Amazon or Google, although, as we said, Apple would be looking for a quality product, so it would be better than the competition, and we would pay this. Each member of the household would have their own profile and personalized settings depending on who is using the device.
The launch would have been delayed because Apple wants to accompany it with a more advanced version of Siriwhich has not just arrived, and the reason why the Apple TV, or even the HomePod mini itself, are taking so long. This update would arrive at the beginning of 2026, and the new hub would come out shortly after. In addition, the company would be developing a home security camera by the end of that year and a desktop robot with a mobile screen by 2027.
Production of the new device will be moved to Vietnam, with the aim of reducing dependence on Chinese factories (for fear, in turn, of tariffs and policies from their own government, as we already saw). The BYD company will be responsible for manufacturing and assembling these products.
With this bet, Apple wants to gain a stronger place in the smart home market, a field where other brands have advanced faster. Its objective is to offer a device that stands out for its careful design, privacy protection and fluid integration with the rest of its products, something similar to what we find in its catalog, regardless of the type.
And you, do you think this type of product is necessary? The truth is that it doesn't look bad, although it will force us to acquire all kinds of gadgets with HomeKit compatibilitysince once we have it, we will want to take advantage of the rest of its functions, and if we do not have a smart plug, for example, we will end up acquiring it.
