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Apple ‘Welcome home’ event: Three new products are coming next week
Apple officially confirmed yesterday that it will hold a product launch event next week on October 13. With a “Welcome home” tagline, the launch is expected to focus on new smart home products. Here’s everything to expect at next week’s Apple event.
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There are two components to the event, as Ryan outlined. There is the in-person experience for members of the press in New York City, as well as what Mark Gurman has called an “online video presentation.”
This suggests we can expect press releases and a video (or videos) to drop around 9 a.m. ET/6 a.m. PT on October 13. Apple hasn’t confirmed this, so the actual launch might vary. At a minimum, though, we know it will announce something on October 13, and some people will see it in person while the rest of us follow along from home.
Next week’s headlining announcement will be Apple’s long-rumored smart display product, which we’ve been calling the “HomePad.” Apple believes that this product can serve as a central hub for your house, powered by Siri AI and Apple Intelligence.
According to Bloomberg, the device will have a 6-inch square display atop a half-dome base, with a metal arm holding it up. The HomePad will reportedly come in two variations: one that can be mounted on a wall and one that can sit on a countertop. Reports have likened the design to Apple’s iconic iMac G4.
One of the flagship features of the HomePad will be its ability to recognize multiple people in a household. Mark Gurman reports that it can recognize who is talking to it or approaching it and dynamically adjust what’s shown on the screen.
In terms of software, the HomePad reportedly mixes different elements of the Apple Watch, Apple TV, and iPad. This includes iPad-like app designs and Apple Watch-style icons. It will also heavily borrow from the iPhone for widgets and StandBy mode.
Apple is also expected to announce a new Apple TV 4K next week, its first update to the set-top box since November 2022. The new Apple TV will look the same as its predecessor, but it will reportedly include the A19 or A19 Pro chip.
That upgraded chip will allow Apple to bring Siri AI and Apple Intelligence features to the Apple TV for the first time.