Apple’s Senior Vice President of Worldwide Marketing Greg Joswiak recently officially announced that a new product launch event will be held on October 13, with “Welcome Home” as the teaser tagline. From this slogan, filled with warmth and a sense of belonging, it is easy to see that the core focus of Apple’s new products this time will be tightly centered on the “smart home” ecosystem.
Apple announces it will hold a “Welcome Home” special event on October 13.
Based on current market rumors and supply chain reports, Apple is expected to launch three major new smart home products at once at this event: a next-generation Apple TV, an all-new HomePod mini, and the long-rumored, highly anticipated first “smart home hub.”
Welcome home. October 13. https://t.co/ChelGSDOTI
— Greg Joswiak (@gregjoz) October 8, 2026
Among the many new products, the one that has drawn the most industry attention is none other than Apple’s first smart home hub. This device is seen as the key piece in Apple’s effort to complete its smart home ecosystem. Reportedly, it perfectly combines the core strengths of the iPad and HomePod, featuring a 6-inch square screen on the front. It not only supports remote control of various smart home appliances, FaceTime video calls, and video playback, but also lets users check real-time information such as news, weather, and calendar at any time.
In terms of interactive experience, the device will deeply integrate an all-new Siri with AI capabilities, making “voice interaction” a core method of operation. In terms of exterior design, Apple is expected to offer two highly distinctive form factors:
- Wall-mounted installation: can be fixed directly to the wall, blending perfectly into home décor.
- Desktop hemispherical base: featuring a unique hemispherical speaker base, the overall aesthetic is reminiscent of the classic iMac G4.
In addition, the device will also have a built-in high-definition camera and an advanced human presence sensor. This means it can not only accurately detect whether there is activity in the room, but also further identify different family members, automatically switch to their dedicated personalized interface, display the corresponding widgets and apps in real time, and provide a highly intelligent and warm interactive experience.
In terms of market positioning and pricing, outside estimates suggest this smart home hub will be priced at around US$350 (roughly NT$11,000), as it seeks to enter the smart home market with a flagship-level positioning.
Besides the product specs sparking speculation, the format of the launch event is also much discussed. Reportedly, Apple has already been inviting some media outlets to go to New York on October 13 to attend an in-person new product experience event. However, as of now, the company has not clearly stated whether it will hold a grand online livestreamed launch event; nor is it ruled out that Apple will follow the recent convention for some products and bring the new products to market directly through an official press release. Just what kind of tech surprises “Welcome Home” will bring this time, and the final product lineup and actual features, still await Apple’s official reveal on October 13.
Source: KOCPC Chinese