Apple confirms “Welcome Home” smart-home event in New York on Oct. 13

Macworld It’s official. Apple will announce its big push into the smart home on Tuesday, October 13. This isn’t expected to be a big special event keynote at Apple Park, but rather a web launch with a coordinated “Special Experience” for invited members of the media to go hands-on with the new products in New York City. Apple did the same thing with the launch of the MacBook Neo earlier this year, after wrapping up a week of product announcements. That launch followed three days of announcements; however, this time everything is expected to drop at the same time. Apple’s Senior VP of Marketing Greg Joswiak posted a video showing the creation of the embroidered Apple logo and “Welcome Home” tagline. So what is Apple expected to announce? Reportedly, we’re getting a trio of new products: An updated Apple TV 4K and HomePod mini with new processors that make them suitable to run Siri AI, and the headline device, an all-new home hub device. The Apple TV 4K and HomePod mini are expected to be relatively straightforward updates with new chips to enable Apple Intelligence features and a few minor tweaks, such as HomePod mini colors, but without any dramatic design or interface changes. It’s the new home hub device that is the star of the show. Apple’s answer to the Amazon Echo Show or Google Nest Hub, this new as-yet-unnamed device (most call it “HomePad” for now) is a totally new thing, with a new design, operating system, and interface. The most reliable rumors say it has a 6-inch display with a squareish aspect ratio, attached via a polished metal arm to a half-dome perforated base similar in size to a HomePod mini. Like a tiny little iMac G4. It will have a new operating system and a new interface that is supposedly a mashup of tvOS, iOS widgets, iPhone Standby mode, and Apple Watch faces and complications. You’ll be able to access your smart home controls as well as your calendar, messages, Apple Music and Podcasts, and make FaceTime calls thanks to the forward-facing camera. That camera reportedly has a cool new trick, too: recognizing which user is looking at it and switching to their own preferences and showing their own data. In addition to Apple’s trio of new products, it might show off some smart home stuff made in partnership with other manufacturers. Apple is said to have partnered with LG on a set of smart home products: A doorbell, an indoor camera, an outdoor camera, and an outdoor floodlight cam. These will carry LG branding, but were designed in conjunction with Apple, so Apple will likely show some of these products on October 13 as well. The media event to accompany this “Welcome Home” launch is on Tuesday, October 13 at 9:00 am ET in New York. It’s not clear whether Apple will accompany this with a longer keynote-style video to introduce these products, as it does with other events, or if it will simply launch new product pages directly on the Apple website.

It's happening! Invitations just went out, and an Apple ‘Welcome Home’ event is less than a week away. Here's what's rumored. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

Greg Joswiak, Apple’s senior vice president of worldwide marketing, posted a teaser video on X on Thursday. It shows the old rainbow Apple logo, embroidered, and sets a launch for Tuesday 13 October. “Welcome home. October 13,” Joswiak wrote. Apple invited the press to an “Apple Experience” in Tribeca, New York, at 9am Eastern time, […] This story continues at The Next Web

Apple's big smart home refresh is coming.

In a post by Greg Joswiak on X and email to creators and media outlets, Apple has said it will hold an ‘Experience’ in Tribeca, New York on Tuesday, October 13 at 09:00 am Eastern. Speculation and rumors have circulated for months that a home hub product is imminent. The latest reports from Mark Gurman […]

Apple is releasing more hardware on October 13, with big expectations surrounding its smart home lineup. Here's what you can anticipate Apple will unveil, and what it probably won't.John Ternus at Apple Park during an eventFor product launches, Apple is best known for its September special event, which is the venue for new iPhone models like the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Duo. However, it often holds more events in the fall than just one.Regularly, it holds a second event in October or November, used to launch products that it didn't feel it could reveal alongside the iPhones. That is exactly the case for fall 2026. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

The event is set for 9AM ET.

Apple has just announced a new October event, taking place in New York on October 13th at 9AM ET. The event company is rumored to be launching smart home-focused products this month, and the event invite hints that'll be the case: Apple is using the tagline "Welcome home." At the event, Apple is rumored to […]

Apple today announced an upcoming product launch that will take place on Tuesday, October 13. We are expecting Apple's announcement to focus on new smart home products, including the long-rumored smart home hub, a new Apple TV 4K, and a refreshed HomePod mini. The home hub is an all-new device that's like a cross between an iPad and a HomePod. It's rumored to have a 6-inch square display, and it's designed as a multi-person device to control smart home products, place FaceTime calls, watch videos, get news and weather information, stay up to date on calendar events, and more. It will integrate with Siri AI, and voice will be the main method of interaction. Apple envisions people installing a hub in multiple rooms in the house. There will be a version meant to be mounted on the wall and a version with a half-dome speaker base, similar in design to the iMac G4. A camera and a presence sensor will detect when a person is in the room, and the device will be able to tell who it is to show a customized interface with widgets and apps. Pricing could be around $350. The ‌HomePod mini‌ is going to get new colors, an N1 networking chip for improved Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, and a faster S-series processor that will support ‌Siri‌ AI. The ‌Apple TV‌ 4K is going to get an A19 or A19 Pro chip, a RAM upgrade, the same N1 chip as the ‌HomePod mini‌, and an upgraded ‌Siri‌ Remote. There is an OLED iPad mini in development, and it could come during the home event. The ‌iPad mini‌ is expected to be more water-resistant with a faster chip and the first ‌OLED‌ display in a smaller tablet size. Timing on the October 13 product launch is unknown, and it is also unclear if there will be an event component or if the devices will debut via press release. Some members of the media have been invited to an "Apple Experience" set to take place in Tribeca, New York on October 13 at 9:00 a.m. Attendees will likely get hands-on time with the new products Apple introduces. Rumors suggest Apple has several Macs coming before the end of the year, but those could be introduced at later in the year instead of during the home product launch. This article, "Apple Product Launch Announced for October 13: 'Welcome Home'" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

Today Apple announced a special event happening next Tuesday, October 13 with the tagline ‘Welcome home.” more…

On his Power On podcast today, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman insisted that Apple plans to hold an "online home event" on Tuesday, October 13 to introduce an all-new smart home hub, a new HomePod mini, and a new Apple TV 4K, all with Siri AI. It is not clear if Gurman is referring to a feature-length, live-streamed event video, or if he considers a series of Apple Newsroom press releases and per-product YouTube videos to be an "event." Either way, selected reporters and content creators would likely receive hands-on time with the devices later on Tuesday.Related Roundups: Apple TV, HomePod miniTags: Mark Gurman, Power On PodcastBuyer's Guide: Apple TV (Don't Buy), HomePod Mini (Don't Buy)Related Forums: Apple TV and Home Theater, HomePod, HomeKit, CarPlay, Home & Auto TechnologyThis article, "Apple Still Expected to Announce Three New Products on October 13" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

Macworld October is shaping up to be an exceptionally busy month at Apple Park. The company is readying the iPhone Duo, revamped Health app on iOS 27.2, touchscreen MacBook Pro, and overhauled iPad mini, which could all launch by the end of this month. That won’t be all. Apple is reportedly planning to announce three smart home products as soon as October 13. According to credible rumors, the devices will include next-generation Apple TV 4K and HomePod mini models, along with a brand-new home hub. While many enthusiasts may perceive some of next week’s Apple TV and HomePod upgrades as unexciting performance boosts, the chip bumps will actually unlock never-before-seen advantages for Apple’s smart home line. An all-new platform The star of the show will undoubtedly be the dedicated home hub—what some are referring to as the HomePad. Hardware-related leaks and OS code references already give us a solid idea of what to expect from this forthcoming device, including its approximate size and some of its software perks. The HomePad will offer a 6-inch, square-shaped touchscreen stitched to a HomePod-like speaker and draw AC power. Users will be able to display memories from their photo libraries when it’s idle—presumably depending on who’s detected nearby. It will rely on the built-in camera to recognize household members and surface apps/data accordingly, in addition to providing for FaceTime video calls. We don’t know exactly what the home hub will look like, but a six-inch square screen makes it approximately this size.Foundry / ChatGPT Perhaps the most exciting aspect of the HomePad is the all-new homeOS, which will certainly introduce its own unique user interface and feature set to justify the creation of such a device. Apple TV 4K and HomePod models already act as HomeKit hubs, and the iPad is perfectly capable of controlling smart home accessories. So, it’s safe to assume that the HomePad will bring new features, enticing customers to add it to their existing setups. Smarter speaker The HomePod mini has been around for six years, providing a decent listening experience, seamless Apple ecosystem integrations, and basic voice command support in a miniature design. During the October 13 launch, Apple could finally unveil the HomePod mini 2, bringing fresh color options, potential audio improvements, and a faster S-series chip. While this may sound like an iterative upgrade, the HomePod mini 2 will finally resolve its predecessor’s main flaw. Foundry Despite its smart speaker classification, the HomePod mini is currently powered by the classic Siri, which is anything but smart. The voice assistant frequently struggles to perform basic actions, requires precise phrasing, and instructs users to check their iPhones for complex answers. The HomePod mini 2 will address that by adopting Siri AI, allowing you to speak more naturally and get hands-free answers based on its trained data and your personal information. Many users will finally be satisfied with the HomePod’s overall performance, minimizing the need to hunt for smarter third-party alternatives like those from Google and Amazon. A19 TV perks Similar to the HomePod mini, the imminent Apple TV 4K 4’s most prominent highlight will be the introduction of a faster chip. First released in 2022, the current model packs the iPhone 13’s A15 Bionic chipset with 4GB of RAM. Next week’s model could bump that to an A19 or A19 Pro SoC from last year’s iPhone 17 lineup, increasing the RAM to 8GB or 12GB. This will bring Siri AI to the big screen and enhance the set-top box’s general performance. That seems unlikely to be the full story. Opting for a year-old flagship smartphone processor in the midst of a chip shortage crisis solely for Siri AI support does not add up—especially since TVs aren’t primary AI consumption devices. Had it been the case, Apple could’ve easily repurposed the iPhone 15 Pro’s A17 Pro chip and gotten away with it. Apple wants you to game on your Apple TV, and a much better processor could help.Foundry As such, I presume the fourth-generation Apple TV 4K will bring meaningful software additions that take full advantage of the A19, like a more serious gaming push. Given that Beats has allegedly been developing game controllers, this theory could realistically materialize. Otherwise, no one is paying over two hundred bucks to stream Netflix and chill with Siri AI in the living room. The great unknown While iPhone hardware components tend to leak in advance all the time, Apple has a tighter grip over its software development teams. During pretty much every press event, the company surprises us with fresh OS features introductions that had been built in utter secrecy. These features often roll out to older devices, too, despite being marketed for the latest and greatest releases. Foundry So even if you’re not planning to upgrade your current Apple smart home devices, the next software update could still elevate your experience with significant additions—like iOS 27.2’s four-HomePod surround sound setup.

Apple has itself confirmed that a top-end Mac Studio with an M5 Ultra chip and as much as 512GB of RAM will arrive in late October.

October is about to become a very busy month for Apple, with the company set to release the iPhone Duo, both iOS 27.1 and iOS 27.2, and a new Mac Studio configuration with 512GB of RAM. In addition, up to seven more Apple products may be unveiled this month, including an all-new smart home hub, a new Apple TV 4K, a new HomePod mini, an iPad mini with an OLED display, MacBook Pro models with OLED displays, and more. Below, we have outlined 12 new things to expect from Apple in October. This article was published previously and updated with the latest rumors. Confirmed iPhone Duo: The foldable iPhone Duo launches on Friday, October 23. Pre-orders begin Friday, October 16 at 5 a.m. Pacific Time. iOS 27.1: Apple said the iPhone Duo will ship with iOS 27.1, so the software update is expected to be released before October 23. iOS 27.2: Apple jumped ahead to an iOS 27.2 beta because iOS 27.1 is dedicated to the iPhone Duo. iOS 27.2 adds support for the five additional Siri AI languages that Apple promised would be coming in October, so accordingly we can expect iOS 27.2 to be released at some point during the month. Mac Studio (512GB RAM): While the new Mac Studio with M5 Max and M5 Ultra chips was released last week, Apple said a high-end configuration with the M5 Ultra and 512GB of RAM will be available in "late October." Rumored The following three devices will be unveiled on Tuesday, October 13, according to a report from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman:Home hub: An all-new Apple smart home hub featuring Siri AI, a 6-inch to 7-inch square display, an A18 chip or newer for Apple Intelligence, FaceTime, and more. A new operating system will feature clock faces, widgets, and more. There will be a tabletop version with a speaker base and a wall-mounted version.↳ homeOS: Apple's smart home hub is expected to run an all-new operating system that may be named homeOS, according to trademark filings. Apple TV 4K (4th Generation): A19 or A19 Pro chip, an increased 8GB to 12GB of RAM for Apple Intelligence and Siri AI support, an Apple-designed N1 chip with Wi-Fi 7 support, and an updated Siri Remote. A leak revealed the new Apple TV will look the same as the existing model. HomePod mini 2: Newer chip, Siri AI support, improved sound quality, Apple's N1 chip with Wi-Fi 7 support, a second-generation Ultra Wideband chip, and new color options, including pink and green. No major design changes.Apple is planning to unveil a second set of new products in the final week of October, according to MacRumors sources. While we do not know exactly which products are coming at this time, it is likely that the following Macs will be announced:14" and 16" MacBook Pro models with OLED displays: A major MacBook Pro redesign with an OLED display, touchscreen support, M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, a Dynamic Island, a thinner-and-lighter design, and potentially Apple's C1X or C2 modem for built-in cellular connectivity. 24" iMac: M6 chip and new color options. 14" MacBook Pro: M6 chip.A new iPad mini is also expected at some point in October:iPad mini 8: OLED display, A20 Pro chip, landscape front camera, redesigned speaker system, and water-resistant design.Apple has yet to announce an October event. When it held a "Scary Fast" event on October 30, 2023, Apple sent out invites six days prior, on October 24. Today is six days before the October 13 date that Apple reportedly plans to unveil an all-new home hub, so we shall see if history repeats itself and invites go out today. If there are no October events planned, then expect press releases on the Apple Newsroom website, along with shorter per-product YouTube videos and hands-on gatherings for selected journalists and content creators. This article, "12 New Things to Expect From Apple in October" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

Last week, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman claimed that Apple will announce its new HomePad on October 13. Now, a new report suggests that the company is planning two separate product launches this month. According to the report, which cites multiple sources familiar with the matter, Apple is planning another online launch in the final week of October. The company could announce the rumored MacBook Ultra lineup, along with M6 powered 14-inch MacBook Pro and iMac models. Notably, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman recently stated that Apple would unveil the touchscreen MacBooks next month. Apple is...