Apple now expected to unveil HomeOS, related hardware ahead of 2026 WWDC

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AppleInsiderAppleInsider
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in Future Apple Hardware edited June 16

Apple's long-rumored launch of the homeOS platform to run smart-home devices and services has had its debut pushed back to the spring of 2026, alongside the launch of new home hardware.

An iPad-like Home Hub device could control various smart-home functions.
An iPad-like Home Hub device could control various smart-home functions.



Apple is said to have delayed the rollout of both its smart home hub and supporting products due to delays with upgrades to Siri. While it may be something you would consider to be launched during WWDC, it may arrive earlier than the 2026 event.

According to Bloomberg, the rollout of the planned upgrades happen after the updated Siri arrives -- which realistically means Spring 2026 before WWDC.

Apple's ambitions for early 2026 include two big updates, including an upgraded Siri experience, featuring contextual understanding, chatbot capabilities. It's also anticipated to be coming out with a conversational, always-on copilot that could announce tasks.

The company has been planning an iPad-like "home hub" device that would control in-home systems such as climate control, home security, and other functions. Other rumored home products include a tabletop robotic arm that might also include a swivelable iPad-like display.

A convergence of Apple technologies



The rollout of Apple's smart-home push is dependent on several different factors coming together. Built on the upgraded Siri for voice-based commands and requests, new hardware would likely be unveiled at the March event, ahead of the company's annual developer conference.

It will rely on Thread control to create a mesh network among the smart-home devices. Existing Apple products such as the iPhone, Apple TV, and HomePod already have the necessary radios for the future HomeOS built-in.

The continuing development of Apple Intelligence will also play a key role in the evolution of Apple's home technologes. Alongside the upgrade to Siri's capabilities, Apple has recently opened up the technology to developers with its Foundation Models Framework, announced during WWDC.

Other manufacturers have slowly started to adopt compatibility with Apple's Thread home technology into their own products, such as Ikea's Timmerflotte temperature and humidity sensor.

A unified push by Apple to promote homeOS and products supporting it will allow Apple to offer unified home control that works across different brands and technologies. This would, if adopted by users, give Apple an advantage in the smart-home accessory market.

Update June 16, 7AM ET Updated with more clarity and a correction about the spring 2026 expected release.

Rumor Score: Possible

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Comments

  • Reply 1 of 15
    lesterkrimbaughlesterkrimbaugh Posts: 81member
    I feel that's gonna do it for me.

    I've been using HomeKit exclusively for some years now. But there are too many capabilities and too many devices which escape HomeKit and Siri.

    I'm going to have to begin shifting away from HomeKit and toward Alexa just to be able to fully utilize many of the capabilities of the devices I already own.
    williamlondon
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  • Reply 2 of 15
    chasmchasm Posts: 3,750member
    lesterkrimbaugh said:
    I've been using HomeKit exclusively for some years now. But there are too many capabilities and too many devices which escape HomeKit and Siri.

    I'm going to have to begin shifting away from HomeKit and toward Alexa just to be able to fully utilize many of the capabilities of the devices I already own.
    And that’s fine, but be aware of how much privacy you’re giving up.

    Amazon sells everything you say to Alexa. Apple does not sell anything you say to anyone.

    That said, I’m hoping that HomeKit will get a big refocus/upgrading over the next year or two.
    StrangeDays
     1Like 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 3 of 15
    paisleydiscopaisleydisco Posts: 179member
    lesterkrimbaugh said:
    I feel that's gonna do it for me.

    I've been using HomeKit exclusively for some years now. But there are too many capabilities and too many devices which escape HomeKit and Siri.

    I'm going to have to begin shifting away from HomeKit and toward Alexa just to be able to fully utilize many of the capabilities of the devices I already own.
    LOL 

    gonna tap out now?
    williamlondon
     1Like 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 4 of 15
    Fred257fred257 Posts: 295member
    Because of Siri. 

    Siri please just retire and leave us to ask something else that understands our speech and doesn’t talk back to us like we don’t know what we are talking about. Using Siri is like being in a relationship with a psychopath who plays dumb to get you to be upset with them.
     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 5 of 15
    nubusnubus Posts: 866member
    chasm said:
    And that’s fine, but be aware of how much privacy you’re giving up.
    I'm about to abandon it as well.

    My home appliances from Miele and Siemens have SDKs. They support Alexa and their own apps. Apple offer no support for their capabilities. Same goes for heating and my robovac. I have my Hue controlled through Homekit to benefit from multi-user geofencing (seems I can now do this without Homekit). Apple Home doesn't even support the wheel controls from Hue. Didn't Apple ship a product with wheel control at some point...

    Will we see support for more appliances? Don't bet on it. We have seen how CarPlay Ultra lost even the launch partners. What would the benefit be for vendors to abandon their own customer platforms? 10 years ago they didn't have any and CarPlay + Homekit made sense. By now Miele knows when I need their detergent and vacuum bags. Why add any US company to the mix? CarPlay and Apple Home are designed to make brands generic.
    williamlondonStrangeDays
     0Likes 2Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 6 of 15
    9secondkox29secondkox2 Posts: 3,571member
    Just come out with the whole thing:

    homeOS router, lights, speakers, iPad mount, door locks, thermostat, etc. etc. 

    make it so it just works. 
    blastdoor
     1Like 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 7 of 15
    puiz666puiz666 Posts: 28unconfirmed, member
    And we are calling it Apple Gag Reel. 
    williamlondon
     0Likes 1Dislike 0Informatives
  • Reply 8 of 15
    AppleZuluapplezulu Posts: 2,488member
    lesterkrimbaugh said:
    I feel that's gonna do it for me.

    I've been using HomeKit exclusively for some years now. But there are too many capabilities and too many devices which escape HomeKit and Siri.

    I'm going to have to begin shifting away from HomeKit and toward Alexa just to be able to fully utilize many of the capabilities of the devices I already own.
    I’ve been using HomeKit for quite some time. It does what it does quite well, and very reliably. For further advances, I am content to wait for the next generation thing that still won’t turn every query into an ad, and that makes artificial intelligence useful, without relying on the hot garbage of hallucinatory mimicry that the other companies are foisting on the world. Apple proves over and over that first is not a substitute for best, and still people forget that and succumb to the half-baked bells and whistles FOMO delivers. 
    Fred257 said:
    Because of Siri. 

    Siri please just retire and leave us to ask something else that understands our speech and doesn’t talk back to us like we don’t know what we are talking about. Using Siri is like being in a relationship with a psychopath who plays dumb to get you to be upset with them.
    So you feel Apple should call the Siri upgrade something else when it comes out? Interesting. 
    StrangeDays
     1Like 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 9 of 15
    imatimat Posts: 227member
    I am so disappointed. The biggest absent from WWDC, besides Apple Intelligence, was HomeKit. And no one in the "tech community" really spoke about that (except this article).
    Personally I hoped it would be a part of the OS's that would be revealed with a new product line this fall but this article doesn't give me much hope.

    It is 2025!!!!

    I can easily install door sensors (matter over thread) but I cannot have an automation that, when I "arm" them, I get a notification that one door has been opened.
    I can easily install an irrigation system (Eve Aqua) by I cannot program it to turn on daily at a specific time. Yet I can tell the Home App how long it runs once turned on.
    Yet, with a wall outlet (matter over thread) I can programm on-off times and days.

    And I cannot create safeguards ("if the Pool filter is ON, then don't turn on the water") for instance.

    I know there are many apps (third party home apps or specific manufacturers apps), I find it baffling that Apple skipped the "Home" section entirely and, from the article, has no plans to address things like these. I specifically bought Matter over Thread devices for compatibility, privacy and not to be reliant on a million manufacturer apps...

    And don't get me started on HomeKit Secure video being 1080p in 2025...
    williamlondon
     0Likes 1Dislike 0Informatives
  • Reply 10 of 15
    blastdoorblastdoor Posts: 3,821member
    9secondkox2 said:
    Just come out with the whole thing:

    homeOS router, lights, speakers, iPad mount, door locks, thermostat, etc. etc. 

    make it so it just works. 
    100%. Home automation is a challenging market, but it's a challenge Apple should have faced head on with a multi-year strategy. Instead they've just been d!cking around, kind of like how they've been d!cking around with gaming on the Mac. 

    Apple no longer feels like a company with a clear vision and strategy for achieving that vision. They are starting to remind me more and more of the bozo-led company I work for. 
    williamlondonStrangeDays
     0Likes 2Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 11 of 15
    avon b7avon b7 Posts: 8,306member
    lesterkrimbaugh said:
    I feel that's gonna do it for me.

    I've been using HomeKit exclusively for some years now. But there are too many capabilities and too many devices which escape HomeKit and Siri.

    I'm going to have to begin shifting away from HomeKit and toward Alexa just to be able to fully utilize many of the capabilities of the devices I already own.
    I use Alexa and overall the experience is 'good' but far from 'great'. Maybe Alexa + (or whatever it's called) will improve things.

    Because of the shape of my living room I have two TVs in it. Both have Fire sticks connected to them.

    Sometimes I have this situation. 

    "Alexa. Turn on the Samsung in the living room."

    Sometimes I get this reply:

    "There is no Samsung in the living room. Would you like me to turn on the Samsung in the living or the Samsung in the living room?"

    So it could be better but these issues don't happen regularly so I'm satisfied but think those kinds of strange replies should not happen. 
    muthuk_vanalingam
     0Likes 0Dislikes 1Informative
  • Reply 12 of 15
    lordjohnwhorfinlordjohnwhorfin Posts: 910member
    It’s 2025 and Alexa still doesn’t support multiple homes, and handling a large number of devices is extremely challenging due to the app’s poor design, so when people criticize HomeKit and praise Alexa as an example of how to do home automation… 
    AppleZuluwilliamlondonStrangeDays
     3Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 13 of 15
    williamlondonwilliamlondon Posts: 1,520member
    B-bye trolls, won’t miss you, especially in these forums.
    StrangeDays
     1Like 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 14 of 15
    StrangeDaysstrangedays Posts: 13,200member
    nubus said:
    I'm about to abandon it as well.

    My home appliances from Miele and Siemens have SDKs. They support Alexa and their own apps. Apple offer no support for their capabilities. Same goes for heating and my robovac. I have my Hue controlled through Homekit to benefit from multi-user geofencing (seems I can now do this without Homekit). Apple Home doesn't even support the wheel controls from Hue. Didn't Apple ship a product with wheel control at some point...

    Will we see support for more appliances? Don't bet on it. We have seen how CarPlay Ultra lost even the launch partners. What would the benefit be for vendors to abandon their own customer platforms? 10 years ago they didn't have any and CarPlay + Homekit made sense. By now Miele knows when I need their detergent and vacuum bags. Why add any US company to the mix? CarPlay and Apple Home are designed to make brands generic.
    Your hardware vendors could support HomeKit if they chose to. Apple doesn’t implement it for them. 
    williamlondon
     1Like 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 15 of 15
    StrangeDaysstrangedays Posts: 13,200member

    9secondkox2 said:
    Just come out with the whole thing:

    homeOS router, lights, speakers, iPad mount, door locks, thermostat, etc. etc. 

    make it so it just works. 
    I believe Apple is never going to sell you lights, locks, or thermostats, because that is a niche business and is  not a good use of its time. They provide the platform, vendors provide hardware for or. I can already buy all of those things, and use them daily in HomeKit in two households. 
     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
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