After a long period of silence, Apple seems to be gearing up to make a comeback in the smart home market. The company has been quiet on this front since the release of the HomePod 2 in January last year. But according to reports from Bloomberg’s Apple expert Mark Gurman, Apple is preparing to launch new devices along with a new operating system called homeOS.
This new operating system is said to be the glue that will connect various smart displays and devices in your home, including a table-mounted robotic arm. The rumors about homeOS first surfaced earlier this year and now Gurman suggests that it could be rolled out within the next two years.
Apple’s previous attempts to establish itself in the smart home market were hindered by its focus on premium products that worked within a closed ecosystem. Despite contributing to the Matter smart home standard, which aims to improve compatibility between devices from different brands, Apple seems to be moving forward with its own proprietary OS.
Gurman speculates that Apple’s new smart screens will be competitively priced, but the real differentiator will be Apple Intelligence. This new smart home tech is expected to seamlessly integrate with Apple’s ecosystem, offering personalized experiences that may not be available to users with devices from other brands.
Amazon, on the other hand, reportedly suffered losses on its Echo speakers and may introduce a premium AI-powered Alexa subscription to offset these losses. However, Apple has no plans to charge for its Apple Intelligence services until at least 2027, giving it a potential edge in the market.
iPhone users will experience Apple Intelligence with the upcoming iOS 18.1 update, which is set to launch later this month. TechRadar’s AI channel will provide all the latest news and previews of new features related to Apple Intelligence.
As Apple gears up to re-enter the smart home market, it will be interesting to see how consumers respond to its new offerings and whether the company has indeed learned from its past mistakes. With a focus on affordability, seamless integration, and personalized experiences, Apple’s smart home vision may just reshape the way we interact with our living spaces.
