Apple's Upcoming Smart Home Innovations with Proxima Chip

Apple is gearing up to revolutionize its home product lineup with the integration of its proprietary Proxima wireless networking chip, marking a significant shift from relying on Broadcom’s technology. The new chip is slated to debut in updated home devices by 2025, including an updated Apple TV 4K, a refreshed HomePod mini, and potentially new Apple-branded security cameras.

The Proxima chip, designed not just to connect devices to home networks but also to function as a wireless access point, is central to Apple’s strategy. Bloomberg reports suggest this technology could extend its capabilities to other products like iPhones and Macs while remaining a key feature for smart-home devices. Apple’s home lineup could see the addition of a smart lock doorbell with Face ID and other innovations.

In line with its privacy-first approach, Apple continues to enhance HomeKit Secure Video, a feature allowing users to store encrypted video footage from supported security cameras directly to iCloud. Subscribers with 200GB of iCloud storage can securely keep up to 10 days of recordings from five cameras without consuming storage limits. The 2TB plan extends this capability to an unlimited number of cameras. Third-party cameras already support this feature, but Apple may unveil its own security cameras by late 2025.

Adding to its smart home ecosystem, Apple is expected to launch a long-anticipated “smart home hub.” This device, likely to be announced at WWDC 2025, can be mounted on walls and integrate data from Apple and third-party devices, centralizing smart home management.

Apple’s refreshed Apple TV 4K and HomePod mini will incorporate the Proxima chip and advanced smart home technologies, reinforcing the brand’s commitment to encrypted video and user privacy. These features will offer a stark contrast to competitors like Google and Amazon, which prioritize different approaches to smart home technology.