Apple Plans Entry into Smart Home Camera Market by 2026

Apple is gearing up to enter the smart home camera market in 2026, according to insights from well-known analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. With a goal of achieving annual shipments in the tens of millions, Apple appears ready to compete directly against third-party HomeKit-compatible devices like the Eve Indoor Cam. The Apple-branded IP camera is expected to offer strong integration with Siri and enhanced Apple Intelligence features, promising a highly interactive and user-friendly experience.

For some time, speculation has circled around Apple’s strategic plans to penetrate the smart home space more robustly. While Apple’s Home app currently supports a variety of third-party accessories, launching a first-party camera may unlock unique functionality, potentially driven by a high-performance embedded Apple silicon chip. Such a chip could provide advanced AI-driven features, setting Apple’s camera apart from existing options.

This initiative aligns with Apple’s broader strategy in the smart home sector, marked by the anticipated release of a smart display device as soon as next year. The upcoming display will merge a speaker, similar to the HomePod, with a touchscreen interface, likely targeting kitchen use cases for managing timers, displaying recipes, and more. This device is seen as Apple’s answer to competitors like Amazon’s Echo Show.

Beyond this, Apple is reportedly working on a more advanced display scheduled for release a few years later, featuring an articulated robotic arm. This design will allow the screen to pan and tilt to follow users around the room, presenting a seamless interactive experience that adapts to the user’s movements and environment.