Apple HomeView is expected at the Welcome Home event on October 13
Apple is all set to hold its ‘Welcome Home’ launch event today (October 13). This will be the company’s first event after the September event where it unveiled 2026 iPhone lineup – iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, along with iPhone Duo. Apple’s October 13 event could mark a major push into smart home devices.
Apple confirmed the event last week through a teaser shared by its marketing chief Greg Joswiak, with the tagline strongly hinting at a major push into the smart home category. The third expected launch is an updated Apple TV. The updated Apple TV could also feature deeper Siri AI integration for voice-controlled navigation and smart home functions.
At the event, the company is expected to unveil its “long-awaited smart home hub with a screen, the new HomePod mini and an updated Apple TV,” Gurman stated. All three devices are expected to have Siri AI at the core, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, making the October event potentially important for Apple’s wider smart home strategy. All three devices will have Siri AI at the core, he added. Here’s what to expect. The most notable launch is expected to be a new smart home hub with a built-in display, which could compete with devices such as Google Nest Hub and Amazon Echo Show. The device is rumoured to feature an S11 chip, which could support faster performance and Siri AI features. The screen could be used to show information such as weather updates, calendar events and music controls. A FaceTime camera is also among the expected features, potentially allowing the device to double as a video-calling hub. The device is rumoured to receive a more powerful chip, potentially the A19 or A19 Pro, which could improve gaming, streaming and multitasking. Other possible additions include HDMI pass-through and a redesigned Siri Remote.
Apple is also expected to introduce an updated HomePod mini. The overall design may remain largely unchanged, while an upgraded S11 chip could improve performance and Siri responsiveness. The speaker could also get tighter integration with Apple’s smart home ecosystem and potentially new colour options.