Apple's Aggressive New Smart Home Strategy

Apple is reportedly planning a major overhaul of its smart home strategy, moving from a "hobby" approach to an aggressive market push. This new strategy, expected to launch in 2025 and beyond, centers around three key pillars:

Three Pillars of Apple's New Smart Home Strategy

1. Apple Intelligence with a heavy Siri focus: Apple aims to leverage its Apple Intelligence platform for enhanced home automation and precise control of apps, devices, and media. A new App Intents system will allow Siri to perform numerous actions within apps, potentially enabling control of many devices with a single voice command. This enhanced Siri functionality is anticipated to arrive next spring

2. homeOS, a new software platform built on tvOS: A new operating system, homeOS, built upon the foundation of tvOS, will underpin this new smart home ecosystem.

3. Broader accessory compatibility through Matter: Apple's adoption of Matter will enable wider compatibility with smart home accessories.

New Apple Smart Home Devices

Several new devices are rumored to be part of this initiative:

• Affordable Smart Display (2025): This device, envisioned as an affordable iPad-like screen, will allow users to stream Apple TV+, conduct FaceTime calls, browse the web, and access apps like Calendar and Notes. It's expected to have a square display and an A18 chip.

• High-End Smart Home Device (Later): A more expensive device (potentially around $1,000) is also anticipated. This device will feature a swiveling robotic limb with a screen on top, focusing on home security monitoring, advanced videoconferencing, and high-quality audio playback.

• Wall-Mounted Smart Display and Security Camera (Future): Rumors suggest a wall-mounted smart display (code-named J490), potentially arriving as early as March, and an Apple-branded smart security camera, slated for 2026 production. The camera will integrate deeply with other Apple devices, utilizing Siri and Apple Intelligence for seamless connectivity and potentially AI-based features.

Apple's Goals

The overall aim is to provide a more integrated and powerful smart home experience within the Apple ecosystem, offering a compelling alternative to existing offerings from Google and Amazon. The focus on Apple Intelligence and Siri aims to simplify control and automation, addressing user desires for more streamlined multi-device commands.