Apple may be preparing to enter an entirely new operating system category. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the company is reportedly developing a dedicated platform for a smart-home hub with a 6- to 7-inch display, potentially arriving as soon as October 2026.
Apple has not launched a distinct new OS platform since watchOS in 2015, though it introduced visionOS in 2023. A dedicated smart-home operating layer would still mark a meaningful shift in how Apple positions itself inside your home.
What Apple Is Reportedly Building
A blend of three existing Apple operating systems, designed for a screen you would mount in your kitchen.
Gurman’s Power On newsletter describes the software as combining visual and interaction elements from tvOS, watchOS, and iOS. The interface reportedly includes app icons, widgets, and customizable clock faces, with elements that adapt in size depending on how close you are to the display.
The reported hardware pairs a squarish screen attached to a HomePod-style speaker. Siri is reportedly central to the platform, positioning the hub as a dedicated screen-based interface for Apple’s AI assistant.
What’s in a Name?
Trademark activity suggests “homeOS,” but Apple has not confirmed anything.
Trademark filings tied to a possible Apple shell company point toward the name homeOS. Apple has not confirmed the name, the device, the software, or any release date, so treat that label as speculative.
The Privacy Question That Needs an Answer
Facial recognition for personalized household profiles raises questions Apple has not yet addressed.
Gurman’s reporting describes a system that could use facial recognition to identify who is standing in front of the display and serve up personalized information for each household member. That would also raise meaningful questions about data storage, consent, and how Apple separates profiles in a shared space.
Apple has disclosed nothing about how any of this would function. What that means for your household data remains entirely unanswered.
When to Expect News
October 2026 is the earliest window, with some reports extending into early 2027.
Gurman places a possible announcement as soon as next month, while other coverage suggests the window could stretch into early 2027. If Apple confirms the product, it would signal a direct challenge to Amazon and Google in the smart-home market.
