Apple prepares major expansion of its smart home lineup

Apple is reportedly reshaping its retail displays ahead of new home products, including refreshed Apple TV and HomePod mini models, while a long-rumoured smart home hub could bring a display and Siri AI.

Apple appears to be preparing for a broader push into the smart home market, with the company reportedly planning changes to its retail stores ahead of the arrival of new home-focused products.

The reported move comes as Apple is expected to refresh some of its existing smart home devices and potentially introduce an entirely new category of hardware. The developments could mark a renewed effort by the company to build a more comprehensive ecosystem around home entertainment, connected devices and artificial intelligence.

According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple plans to reorganise sections of its physical stores during the autumn. The changes are expected to centre on the “Avenues” displays found along the perimeter walls of newer Apple Store locations.

These sections currently showcase products such as Apple TV, HomePod, AirPods and Beats, along with accessories from third-party manufacturers. Apple is reportedly planning to rearrange some of these areas and create additional spaces for accessories and upcoming products.

Apple TV and HomePod Mini set for updates

Among the products reportedly nearing launch are refreshed versions of the Apple TV and HomePod mini. The new devices are expected to feature more powerful processors, which could provide the computing capability required for Apple’s expanding AI ambitions.

The next Apple TV could reportedly use an A17 Pro chip or a newer processor, while the updated HomePod mini is expected to receive an S9-series chip. Improvements to audio performance and the addition of a red colour option have also been suggested.

The current HomePod mini has remained largely unchanged for several years, making a hardware update significant for Apple’s smart speaker strategy.

The company’s retail preparations have also renewed speculation around a long-rumoured smart home hub featuring a built-in display. The device has variously been referred to as a “HomePad” or a HomePod with a display.

Siri AI could power new home hub

The rumoured device could feature a roughly seven-inch square screen and support both tabletop placement and wall mounting. It is also expected to run a new operating system based on Apple’s tvOS platform.

Siri AI is likely to play a central role in the device if it launches, potentially allowing users to control connected home products, access information and interact with services through voice and screen-based interfaces.

Further clues have reportedly emerged in code associated with macOS Tahoe 26.7. The software is said to reference a Widget Gallery containing icons, widgets and clock faces. Some widgets could also be automatically recommended based on information from a connected iPhone.

While Apple has yet to officially confirm the reported products or retail changes, the combination of store preparations, hardware updates and software references suggests the company could be laying the groundwork for a more ambitious smart home strategy. If introduced, the new devices would expand Apple’s ecosystem beyond its established smartphones, computers and wearables into a more AI-driven connected home experience.