Apple's Welcome Home event expected to debut homeOS and a smart home hub

Apple's next launch event, "Welcome Home," takes place in New York on October 13 at 9AM ET, and according to The Verge it will focus almost entirely on the smart home. The expected lineup includes a first-of-its-kind smart home hub, a new operating system called homeOS, refreshed HomePod Mini and Apple TV hardware, and mentions of partner devices built for the platform. The long-rumored touchscreen MacBook is not expected to appear; The Verge reports that Mark Gurman believes it will debut later in the month instead.

A dedicated smart home hub

Apple has so far managed its smart home ambitions mainly through the Home app on the iPhone. That changes if the reports hold. The Verge says the new device — which could be named HomePad, HomeView, or simply Apple Home Hub — will feature a 6-inch square touchscreen that works either wall-mounted or freestanding on a table or countertop.

The countertop version reportedly resembles the iMac G4, with the display attached to an arm set into a half-sphere base. According to Gurman, the hub will use voice or facial recognition to identify who is using it and surface that person's contacts, calendar appointments, and similar personal information. Apple will also reportedly offer secondary identification through an iPhone as a privacy safeguard.

homeOS

The hub is expected to run a new software platform called homeOS. The Verge notes that Apple may have registered the trademark through a shell company, Home Operations Suite LLC — a tactic the company has used before to quietly secure rights to names. Gurman describes the interface as a blend of iOS, tvOS, and watchOS, with smart home controls such as thermostats and smart locks at its center, plus the ability to make FaceTime calls.

The usual assortment of Apple apps and widgets is expected as well, including Music, Podcasts, News, Reminders, Notes, and Siri AI.

HomePod Mini and Apple TV get modest updates

Neither device is getting a redesign, per The Verge, but both are expected to gain a new processor to handle the added demands of Siri AI. For the HomePod Mini, this would be the first update since it was announced on October 13, 2020 — exactly six years before the event — and it will reportedly come in new colors, including green and pink.

The Apple TV is in line for its first hardware refresh since 2022. Beyond supporting Siri AI, the new chip is expected to speed up navigation, which The Verge notes can feel sluggish on the current model. Both devices are expected to feature Apple's N1 chip, which includes support for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 6.0.

Partner hardware, including LG

Third-party devices are expected to get some airtime too, though The Verge suggests Apple won't share much of the spotlight with partners. A leak has already revealed LG smart home products, including deadbolts and thermostats. They reportedly include an NFC-based Proximity Control feature that surfaces a prompt in the iPhone's Dynamic Island when a phone is held nearby, along with a pairing method that lets devices be set up by tapping before they are even powered on.

Why it matters

Apple has largely run its smart home efforts through an app rather than dedicated hardware, a gap The Verge says the company has been eager to close. A hub running its own operating system would turn the home into a genuine platform play, complete with an app ecosystem, AI-driven assistant upgrades, and third-party partners such as LG building on top of it. If homeOS debuts as described, October 13 could mark the point where Apple begins treating the home as a primary product category rather than an accessory to the iPhone.