Apple’s Long-Awaited Home Hub Now Expected in 2026 Due to Siri Dependencies

Apple’s long-rumored smart home controller, known internally as the Home Hub and carrying the code name J490, now appears unlikely to make its debut by the end of 2025. Expectations have shifted toward a potential 2026 launch, suggesting that consumers will need to wait longer for the much-anticipated device.

Reports over the years have pointed to Apple’s development of a centralized smart home controller. However, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman in his latest “Power On” newsletter, the device has been delayed primarily due to unfinished updates to Siri. These enhancements were initially expected to roll out with iOS 18.4, but their absence has impacted the functionality required for the Home Hub to work as intended.

The Home Hub was designed to leverage advanced Siri capabilities, allowing it to utilize personal data and the user’s screen for handling requests across a connected smart home ecosystem. It would also rely heavily on Apple Intelligence App Intents, which would enable Siri to exercise deeper control over apps and features.

Gurman doesn’t think the Home Hub will be ready for release in 2025 at this time. With the necessary Siri updates still in development, a 2026 debut seems more realistic. Gurman has a solid reputation when it comes to Apple-related leaks, lending credibility to this latest outlook.

The Home Hub has previously had delays that have been attributed to Siri. In April, Gurman brought attention to similar problems, stating that the main cause of the device’s postponement past 2025 was delayed Siri improvements. Back in January, he had expressed more confidence in a late 2025 launch, though that timeline now appears too optimistic.

Despite the slower-than-expected progress, internal sources suggest that Apple hasn’t shelved the project. Reports from March indicated that selected Apple employees were testing the Home Hub in real-world environments. Additionally, code references found in the developer beta of iOS 18.6 in June hinted at a possible display with a resolution of 2,176 pixels in width, aligning with the dimensions of an iPad mini, further reinforcing speculation that the Home Hub is still in development.