According to Mark Gurman of Bloomberg, Apple has plans to update both the Apple TV and the HomePod mini in 2025. This update is part of a larger strategy to reinvigorate the company’s smart home product offering. The initiative underlines Apple’s ambition to further strengthen its position in the smart home market.
In addition, Gurman discusses in the report also plans to have a Bluetooth and Wi-Fi chip designed by Apple. This is expected to be introduced in the updated Apple TV and HomePod mini. As a result, Apple has more and more control over its own processes.
New HomePod mini and Apple TV
There have been rumors about a new HomePod mini and Apple TV for some time now. In both cases it would be a minor update that will mainly improve the specifications. Both devices may also receive support for Apple Intelligence.
homeOS in 2025
HomeKit has been established for some time and more and more households have smart devices at home that work with this platform. Smart lighting or a WiFi thermostat in particular can already be found in many homes. More and more rumors indicate that Apple wants to introduce homeOS in 2025.
With homeOS, Apple probably wants to get even more out of Smart Home products so that they can communicate with each other even better. Developers may then be able to develop apps and tools to control smart devices or use them in their apps.
Own Bluetooth and WiFi chip
Since Apple Silicon, Apple may want to have even more processors and chips in-house. Apple will reportedly release its own 5G modem for iPhone and other Apple products in 2025. Your own Bluetooth and WiFi chip may also be part of this.
The yet-to-be-released HomePod mini and Apple TV reportedly contain these new chips developed by Apple. However, by using a custom-designed Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip, future Apple smart home devices could work better with each other and potentially sync data faster.
Availability
The new Apple TV and HomePod mini are expected in 2025, with Apple most likely to announce the products in the fall. The price may remain the same; €109 for the HomePod mini and around €149 for the Apple TV.
Smart Home hub in 2025
In addition to a new Apple TV and HomePod mini, we may also expect a completely new Smart Home device in 2025. Rumors say that Apple may be developing a 6-inch screen that could serve as a central hub for your smart home.
What exactly this device will look like is currently unknown. You may be able to mount the screen on the wall or place it on a speaker stand. In addition, there is also talk of some kind of HomePod with a large display, which can be compared to the Google Nest hub.
The smart screen should become the central place for your smart home within the Apple ecosystem. The screen provides access to the Home app for operating smart devices, but also various apps.