In fact, the development of this smart display device was completed several months ago, but Apple now plans to release it around September, by which time Apple anticipates the new version of Siri will finally be ready.
According to Zhitong Finance App, sources familiar with the matter revealed that Apple’s (AAPL.US) difficulties in the artificial intelligence (AI) field are impacting its product planning, forcing the company to postpone the release of a long-prepared smart home display device until later this year.
The product, codenamed J490, was initially planned for release in spring 2025 but has been delayed to allow Apple to complete the development of an updated version of the Siri digital assistant—a key component of the device’s interface. Sources stated that Apple had then intended to launch the display device this month, expecting the new version of Siri to be ready by that time. However, due to further delays with Siri, Apple is now forced to postpone the release of this smart home device once again.
This predicament highlights Apple’s urgent need to catch up with competitors in the AI space. Siri lies at the core of its AI strategy—many future products will rely on this technology. However, Apple has postponed several long-promised features, some of which were showcased to consumers nearly two years ago.
It has also caused a lack of coordination between the tech giant’s software and hardware plans. In fact, the smart display device itself has been fully developed for months, but the company now intends to launch it around September, when Apple expects the updated version of Siri to finally be completed.
Apple aims to have all new Siri functionalities ready by the time it launches the iPhone 18 Pro in September this year. The upgraded Siri will be able to access users’ personal data to respond more effectively to queries. Apple is also redesigning the interface and underlying AI model to make Siri resemble a modern chatbot more closely. The user data functionality is particularly crucial for the new home device as it aims to provide a highly personalized user experience. It was previously reported that Apple originally hoped all new Siri functions would be ready in the 26.4 software update this year but is now testing versions 26.5 and 27.
Reportedly, this smart home display device resembles a square iPad and can be mounted on a hemispherical speaker base or fixed to a wall, designed to serve as the central AI control hub for households. Its user interface consists of a set of circular app icons arranged similarly to the Apple Watch’s home screen. Its standout feature is a facial recognition-based system that identifies users as they approach the device. Using this information, the product can display personalized content such as users’ schedules, reminders, notes, music preferences, and news interests.
This smart home display device is equipped with a 7-inch screen, a USB-C port for power, and a classic silver aluminum casing. It will be the first of several Apple home devices. The company plans to release a 9-inch-screen version with a mechanical arm next year while also developing a compact home security sensor.
Apple currently plans to run a variant of tvOS 27 on this smart home display device, a new version of its TV box operating system expected to launch in September. Apple’s new home operating system is based on the underlying technology used in the Apple TV. Prior to the recent Siri-related delays, Apple had planned to run the first batch of home devices on a variant of tvOS 26, the current Apple TV software version.
Apple is also developing a series of other AI-powered new products, including a pendant-style device, AirPods with cameras, and smart glasses. These devices are expected to be released after the launch of the updated Siri and are unlikely to be affected by the current delays unless development encounters further issues.
John Ternus, Apple’s Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering, plays a central role in the smart home project, viewing it as a key direction for the company’s future growth. Apple is also working on a new HomePod without a display and an updated version of the Apple TV set-top box, both of which will integrate with new AI functionalities. The Apple TV hardware has not been updated since 2022, though its software received a new Liquid Glass interface last year.
Apple’s smart home layout came years later than similar products launched by Amazon (AMZN.US), Google (GOOGL.US), and other companies. However, Apple is still expected to leverage its existing product ecosystem. The company stated in January this year that its user base had exceeded 2.5 billion.
In recent days, Apple also released a series of new products, including the iPhone 17e, the low-cost MacBook Neo, iPad Air, an external display, as well as updated versions of the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro. However, the company did not discuss any new developments regarding Siri, AI, or smart home technologies—areas that were originally part of Apple’s plans to showcase before this month.
