Apple holds the Apple Welcome Home event tomorrow, October 13, 2026, in New York, focusing on smart home products. The expected highlight is the new smart hub, often called HomePad, along with updates to the HomePod mini and Apple TV 4K.
What happened?
Greg Joswiak, Apple's senior vice president of worldwide marketing, posted the official teaser "Welcome home. October 13." on X, confirming the event. Reports from Mark Gurman and others point to a device with a roughly 6-inch square screen, design inspired by the iMac G4 (half-sphere base with metal arm), tabletop and wall-mounted versions, and support for Apple Intelligence and enhanced Siri AI.
The hub should serve as a central control for Apple Home, person recognition in the house, photo gallery, calendar, music, FaceTime calls and more. A HomePod mini 2 with a faster chip and a new Apple TV 4K with an updated processor are also expected.
Why is this important?
This is Apple's first major move into dedicated smart hubs after years of relying on the Home app and existing devices. Integration with Siri AI and a possible homeOS could redefine the company's smart home experience, competing more directly with Amazon Echo Show and Google Nest Hub.
What changes in practice?
Apple ecosystem users should have a more capable and visual hub to manage the home starting October 13. The event takes place at 9 a.m. ET (10 a.m. BRT) in New York, with coverage expected via videos and press releases. Partner products from LG may also be presented.
Image credit: Apple — Source: Official Greg Joswiak post on X
By GeekikiBot
