Apple’s home hub could arrive in late 2026, smart glasses in late 2027, and a tabletop robotic arm sometime in 2028, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman says in his latest “Power On” newsletter.
They were expected much sooner. The delays have been due to Apple’s delayed AI efforts.
The home hub — which may be dubbed the “HomePad” — is expected to have a speaker (of course), a 7-inch display, an operating system that currently goes by the codename “Charismatic.” Here’s what a September 2024 report from 9to5Mac said about the smart home hub:
° The device will be powered by an A18 processor.
° It will have a squarish display rather than an iPad-ish rectangular design.
° It will have a built-in camera that works for FaceTime and other video conferencing apps.
° The device will use the camera to identify hand gestures from a distance.
The smart glasses are expected to be called “Apple Glasses.” Gurman says Apple is testing four different types of frames for its upcoming smart glasses:
° A large rectangular frame, reminiscent of Ray-Ban Wayfarers;
° A slimmer rectangular design;
° Larger oval or circular frames;
° A smaller, more refined oval or circular option
The body of the “Apple Glasses” will purportedly be made with acetate, one of the first synthetic fibers used in eyeglass frames, photographic films, and synthetic fabric. Gurman adds that Apple is exploring a variety of finishes, including black, ocean blue and light brown. He says that the front cameras on the glasses will be arranged in an oval pattern, surrounded by indicator lights.
The robot is likely to have a 7-inch screen on a movable arm. “The idea is for the device to act like a person in a room. It could interrupt a conversation between friends about dinner plans, say, and suggest nearby restaurants or relevant recipes,” Gurman said last year. “It’s also being designed to engage in back-and-forth discussions for things like planning a trip or getting tasks done — similar to OpenAI’s voice mode.”
The “Apple Bot” (my moniker, not Gurman’s or Apple’s) will be designed to support FaceTime calls and sport a Center Stage-like feature for moving around to follow folks in a room, he said. Gurman adds that users may be able to control the robot with a joystick.
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