Apple is preparing major retail store modifications this fall, signaling the long-awaited arrival of refreshed Apple TV 4K and HomePod mini models alongside a new smart home hub equipped with an A18 chip and a 7-inch square display, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman.
The rumor mill surrounding Apple’s home hardware ecosystem is finally reaching a physical milestone. After years of delays largely attributed to the intricate development of the company’s Siri revamp, retail spaces are bracing for sweeping changes that go far beyond routine inventory refreshes. Now that Siri has come together, these products are finally hitting the market after years without a refresh.
Retail Modifications Point to an Expanded Home Ecosystem
Apple is preparing significant adjustments to its retail locations this fall to showcase new products. According to the reporting from the Power On newsletter, employees are rearranging parts of the Avenues and adding new accessory bays designed specifically to display incoming hardware.
While an upgraded Apple TV set-top box and a refreshed HomePod mini are expected to arrive during this window, the sheer scale of the retail reconfiguration indicates a third, more substantial release is imminent. The physical alterations appear too extensive to be solely about routine updates to existing products. Of course, we’ll never know for certain until Apple holds its September keynote, but today’s reporting suggests we might get our first glimpse at the all-new smart home hub quite soon.
Apple Stores preparing 'significant' changes for new Home product
This retail strategy clarifies previous timeline ambiguities. While early reports indicated that Apple would release a refreshed HomePod mini and Apple TV 4K first and that the company’s first smart home hub might debut a little bit later, it’s now sounding like the smart home hub might release alongside the updated Apple TV and HomePod mini, at least based on what retail stores are planning.
Specifications and Pricing for the Incoming Hardware Lineup
The centerpiece of this upcoming home release cycle is an all-new smart home hub, otherwise known as HomePod with Display or HomePad. Rumors sport a 7-inch square display at the center of the device, which will come in two versions: one with a built-in speaker, and another with magnets on the rear that’ll support wall mounting.
The product will run a new OS that’ll offer widgets on the home screen, be useful for FaceTime calls, and serve as the hub for all of your smart home accessories and Siri. Under the hood, the system will include an A18 chip as well.
Alongside the hub, new Apple TV and HomePod mini models featuring Siri AI support remain on track to launch this year. Another new rumor for Apple’s Home lineup is that the new Apple TV 4K might offer a refreshed Siri Remote, though it isn’t clear what changes will arise.
New Apple TV, HomePod Mini, and More on Track
Broader Hardware Roadmap and the Foldable iPhone Duo
The home product launches share the spotlight with a broader hardware roadmap expected through the remainder of the year. Beyond the living room accessories, other new products Gurman expects this year include an updated entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro with an M6 chip, an iMac with an M6 chip, and an iPad mini with an OLED display. Apple often announces new products in October.
Attention has also turned to mobile developments, particularly concerning Apple’s first foldable device. For months now, the foldable iPhone has generally been referred to as the “iPhone Ultra,” even internally, but Apple is apparently going in a different direction for the official name, emphasizing the foldable iPhone named the iPhone Duo.
The foldable iPhone Duo will start at $2,000, and won’t launch until at least October. Meanwhile, ahead of Apple’s annual iPhone event at 10 a.m. Pacific Time, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has leaked all of the color options for the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and the first-ever foldable iPhone named the iPhone Duo. iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max color options include Black, Light Blue, Burgundy, and Silver, where Burgundy has also been described as Dark Red or Dark Cherry.
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman also outlined what to expect from the Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 set to be unveiled on September 9. While it was initially rumored that Touch ID may be coming to the Apple Watch this year, Gurman reiterated that he does not expect the Series 12 or Ultra 4 to have any major design changes compared to the current Series 11 and Ultra 3 models.