Key Takeaways
1. Apple has postponed the release of its Smart Home Hub, originally planned for Q1 2025.
2. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggests the delay is at least six months, with sales targets set between 500,000 and 1 million units by year-end.
3. Further delays are primarily due to the development of new Siri features, including personal context awareness and a redesign of conversation mode.
4. An internal team is currently testing the Smart Home Hub in real-world settings.
5. The overall Smart Home Hub project is on hold until the new Siri upgrades are completed.
In December, news surfaced that Apple had postponed its rival to Google’s Nest Hub series and the Amazon Echo Show 8 (currently priced at $149.99 on Amazon). During that time, Ming-Chi Kuo indicated that the so-called Apple Smart Home Hub would not launch in Q1 2025, contrary to Mark Gurman’s claims from November 2024.
Delay in Release
Kuo pointed out that Apple had delayed the product’s release by at least six more months. Nevertheless, the analyst expressed that Apple aimed to sell at least 500,000 units by year’s end, or even reach 1 million units if the Smart Home Hub exceeded initial projections.
Siri Features Still in Development
Now, Mark Gurman has reported further delays for the project, primarily due to the need to finalize new Siri features. These enhancements reportedly include personal context awareness and a complete redesign of Siri’s conversation mode.
Meanwhile, while the Siri updates are on hold, an internal team is said to be testing the Smart Home Hub in real-world settings. However, it remains uncertain when these highly anticipated Siri upgrades will be ready, leading Apple to effectively pause the entire Smart Home Hub initiative for now.
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