Apple has postponed the release of its new HomeOS platform and smart home hub device until spring 2026. The delay is due to ongoing upgrades to Siri, Apple’s voice assistant, which will feature new conversational and contextual abilities.
The new HomeOS is designed to control smart-home devices like climate systems, security, and more. Apple plans to introduce an iPad-like home hub that will serve as the main control center for these functions. Another rumored device is a robotic arm with a swivel display similar to an iPad.
Apple aims to launch these products at a consumer-focused event in March 2026, before its annual developer conference. The updated Siri will act as an always-on assistant, able to understand context and announce tasks, improving how users interact with their smart homes.
This new smart home system will use Thread technology to connect devices in a mesh network. Many Apple devices, including the iPhone, Apple TV, and HomePod, already support this feature. Apple is also opening its AI technology to developers, which will help enhance HomeOS’s capabilities.
Other companies, like Ikea, have started making products compatible with Apple’s Thread system. Apple hopes that HomeOS will unify smart home controls across various brands and devices, giving it a stronger position in the smart-home market.
