Key Takeaways
1. The launch of Apple’s smart home display, referred to as “HomePad,” is postponed to the third quarter of 2025.
2. Mass production for the HomePod will move from early 2025 to after WWDC 2025 due to software development delays.
3. The delay aligns with significant design changes expected in iOS 19, which aims to prevent user confusion at launch.
4. Ongoing issues with Apple Intelligence are impacting the development and integration of promised features.
5. User feedback indicates that Apple Intelligence is not fully developed, prompting Apple to resolve these issues before releasing the smart home hub.
Apple’s anticipated smart home display and hub might not be arriving as soon as some had hoped.
Market analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has indicated that the launch of this smart home display has been postponed until the second half of 2025. Referred to as the “HomePad” by various sources, including Ryan Christoffel of 9to5Mac, this hub is now expected to debut in the third quarter of 2025. The delay is said to be to align its launch with the new design changes coming in iOS 19, which is set to be released this fall.
Production Delays
In a recent post on X, Kuo mentioned that he “anticipated that mass production for the display-enabled HomePod would move from the first quarter of 2025 to the third quarter of 2025 (after WWDC) due to software development delays.” He noted ongoing problems with Apple Intelligence, as well as challenges in “making sure the HomePod’s interface is in sync with new OS updates (like iOS 19).”
Expected Design Changes
iOS 19 is believed to bring significant changes to Apple’s operating system design. While this argument might seem a bit extreme, it’s plausible that Apple is postponing the smart home hub to prevent any confusion that might arise from a user interface and user experience change shortly after a new product launch.
The primary reason seems to be Apple Intelligence and the company’s ongoing difficulties in effectively incorporating the features it has promised. This aligns with a recent commentary from Mark Gurman, who also asserts that the smart home hub’s delay is due to complications with Apple Intelligence.
User Sentiment
Overall, user feedback regarding Apple Intelligence suggests that it is not fully developed and requires some adjustments. Since a smart home hub would rely heavily on AI functionalities, Apple could be aiming to resolve as many Apple Intelligence issues as possible before introducing a device that heavily emphasizes this feature.
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