Apple Expands Smart Home Offerings with New Display and Security Camera

Apple is gearing up to make significant strides in the smart home market, with plans to introduce a new smart display by 2025 and a security camera by 2026, according to insider sources. These new devices are poised to compete directly with similar offerings from Amazon and Google, expanding Apple’s dominance beyond smartphones and tablets into the connected home segment.

Sources familiar with Apple’s strategy indicate that the company aims to unveil a smart home panel as early as March 2025. Codenamed “J490,” this display is expected to feature a 6-inch square touchscreen, front-facing camera, speakers, and a rechargeable battery. It would serve as a control hub for HomeKit devices, enabling users to manage their smart homes using Siri voice commands or touch controls. In addition to smart home management, the device will support FaceTime calls, music playback, and seamless integration with other Apple devices.

The display is rumored to operate on a new system, internally referred to as “Pebble,” which blends elements of WatchOS and iPhone’s Standby Mode. This would enable a consistent user experience across Apple’s ecosystem, supporting Handoff functionality to transfer tasks between Apple devices seamlessly. While pricing details have yet to be confirmed, the standard model is expected to compete with products like the Amazon Echo Show and Google Nest Hub, with a premium version potentially priced around $1,000.

Apple is also set to enter the home security camera market by 2026. Renowned Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reports that the tech giant is partnering with Goertek to produce tens of millions of units annually. This move could position Apple as a major player, aiming to capture approximately 25% of the global smart home camera market. The camera is expected to support IP connectivity, Apple Intelligence, and the Matter protocol, aligning with Apple’s HomeKit Secure Video (HSV) for secure, encrypted storage of video footage.

In addition to these smart home advancements, Apple is exploring health-related upgrades to its popular AirPods lineup. Plans are underway to introduce advanced health sensors in future models, potentially transforming AirPods into multifunctional health-tracking devices akin to the Apple Watch. Kuo notes that a new version of AirPods with health features, including in-ear body temperature measurement, is slated for 2025, with another iteration expected in 2026.

With these new devices, Apple aims to catch up with competitors like Google and Amazon in the smart home space while leveraging its established ecosystem. The company’s focus on expanding into the connected home and health sectors underscores its strategy to drive future growth beyond its current product lines.