Apple’s First Smart Home Display Rumored for 2025 Release
- Apple’s latest push into smart homes is more ambitious than ever.
- A wall-mounted Apple display may be around the corner to compete with Amazon’s Echo Show.
- And that's not all – a security camera might just steal the show in 2026.
In a significant step toward deepening its role in the smart home market, Apple is reportedly planning to launch a 6-inch wall-mounted smart display in early 2025, followed by a smart security camera in 2026. This new smart home push aims to position Apple as a more prominent player against rivals Google and Amazon in the expanding ecosystem of smart home technology.
Photo via The Shortcut // Apple may end up competing with Amazon's 'Echo Hub' with an Apple-branded wall-mounted smart display.
A New Smart Display for 2025: Apple's "J490"
Apple’s upcoming smart display, codenamed J490, is expected to hit the market as early as March 2025, according to a report from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Described as a compact, wall-mounted 6-inch screen, this device would bring Apple’s distinctive design and seamless integration into users' homes, offering functionality similar to the Amazon Echo Show and Google Nest Hub.
The display reportedly features a front-facing camera, speakers, and a rechargeable battery, making it ideal for everything from managing smart home devices to video calls via FaceTime. It will also integrate with Apple's HomeKit, allowing control over home automation, lighting, and security systems with touch commands and voice control through Siri.
Photo via The Shortcut // A concept image of what Apple's smart home hub display could look like, although this particular concept is not wall mounted.
Apple is expected to design a new operating system, codenamed Pebble, for this smart display. Pebble combines elements of watchOS and the iPhone’s Standby Mode, with rumored support for Handoff, enabling users to begin a task on one Apple device and continue on another seamlessly. This feature is a further step in Apple's efforts to create a fully integrated ecosystem across its devices.
A Smart Security Camera for 2026
In a parallel move, Apple is also expected to unveil a new security camera in 2026. Ming-Chi Kuo, a well-regarded Apple analyst, suggests that Apple is planning to manufacture millions of units through Goertek, an established supplier. Kuo forecasts that Apple’s security camera could capture around 25% of the global smart home camera market, projecting sales of over 10 million units annually.
Photo via NotebookCheck // A Hue smart security camera, an example of a product Apple may seek to directly compete with come 2026.
The camera is expected to feature end-to-end encryption via Apple’s HomeKit Secure Video platform, which emphasizes user privacy by securely managing and storing video footage. It may also operate over IP and support Matter, the cross-platform smart home standard, enabling compatibility with other devices beyond Apple’s ecosystem.
Expanding Health Features in AirPods
Beyond home automation, Apple’s plans for a health-focused future extend to AirPods, which may feature new health-tracking capabilities in upcoming models. According to Kuo, the 2026 AirPods model could include advanced health sensors that monitor health metrics, in addition to the spatial audio experiences enhanced by infrared technology. This feature will be particularly useful for users of the Apple Vision Pro mixed reality headset, which relies on precise spatial awareness.
Looking Ahead: A Broader Ecosystem of Apple AI and Smart Devices
Apple’s smart display and security camera represent the company’s latest effort to carve out a significant position in the smart home market. CEO Tim Cook has reportedly prioritized this initiative, aiming to close the gap with Amazon and Google.
Apple seems determined to extend its overwhelming success in the smartphone, tablet, and laptop markets into the smart home.— Mark Gurman
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