After years of experimentation and false starts, Apple is gearing up for a major return to the smart home space. According to trusted insider Mark Gurman, the tech giant is developing a new lineup of smart home products that could redefine how users interact with their connected environments.
At the heart of Apple’s renewed smart home strategy is a device that sounds straight out of a sci-fi film: a screen similar to an iPad mounted on a robotic arm. Details about this product remain under wraps, but it’s clear Apple is venturing beyond the conventional smart speaker. Whether it serves as a mobile FaceTime hub, an intelligent assistant that follows your gaze, or a multitasking home control center, the company seems to be betting on futuristic form factors to differentiate itself from Amazon and Google.
Gurman’s report also reveals another, more affordable model in development. Internally known as J490, this stripped-down version will exclude the robotic arm but still deliver core smart home functionality. Originally slated for an earlier release, J490 has reportedly been delayed as Apple works out kinks in Siri’s integration—a notable point, considering the digital assistant has long been a weak link in Apple’s smart home strategy.
If development goes smoothly, J490 could be introduced by the end of this year, while the more advanced robotic-arm model may arrive in late 2025 or early 2026. These launches would represent Apple’s most aggressive move yet into the smart home sector—an area where it has lagged behind rivals despite strong brand loyalty and ecosystem integration.
Given Apple’s track record of transforming markets it enters late—think the iPhone, Apple Watch, or AirPods—its smart home resurgence could be more than just another product launch. If these devices live up to their promise, they could shift the landscape of home automation in a way Apple has done before in other domains.
