Apple is clearing shelf space for a new era of smart home gear. The company is reportedly preparing a significant overhaul of its retail stores this fall. The changes point to more than a routine refresh. And at the center of it all sits Apple Home Hub — its first smart display built for the home.
The retail work targets the “Avenues,” the perimeter walls in Apple’s newer stores. These walls showcase HomePod, Apple TV, AirPods, and Beats gear. Store-layout teams are reportedly rearranging these sections and adding new accessory bays. The scale of the project suggests Apple needs room for something significant.
Apple Home Hub could headline the fall lineup
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reported the retail changes in his Power On newsletter. He said store design teams are reworking the Avenues to make space for new devices arriving this fall.
Gurman added that Apple is planning an updated Apple TV set-top box and a refreshed HomePod mini. But he did note that the store changes go well beyond what those two updates alone would need. This is why he thinks the Apple Home Hub might finally make its retail debut.
Apple reportedly wants a dedicated area for the new hub where shoppers would be able to see how it works and fits into a broader smart home setup. That would be a shift from today’s setup, where smart home gear sits alongside AirPods and Beats headphones on shared shelving.
What to expect from the new Apple Home Hub
The Home Hub has been rumored for years. Reports suggest it will ship in two versions: one with a built-in speaker on a dome-shaped base, and another one that mounts to a wall or plinth using magnets.
Both versions are said to sport a seven-inch square touchscreen. The screen would handle typical smart home duties, like adjusting lights, checking security cameras and doubling up as a digital picture frame when idle.
Rumors also point to intercom functionality and smart lock controls, while a front-facing camera would reportedly handle FaceTime calls.
The Home Hub is said to run on a new operating system built around tvOS. Siri AI would also be baked in throughout. Code found inside a recent macOS Tahoe beta also hints at a widget gallery for the home screen.
Gurman’s earlier reporting places the Home Hub’s launch window between October and early next year. But the retail activity suggests something else. Apple could potentially reveal the hub earlier, alongside the new Apple TV and HomePod mini.
HomePod mini and Apple TV updates are close, too
Given the leaks and rumors, the HomePod mini refresh sounds like an internal update, not a redesign. Reports point to a faster chip that supports Siri AI, while Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 upgrades could also be on the way. The current HomePod mini hasn’t been updated for years, so even a modest bump would be welcome.
The next Apple TV 4K is expected to get a similar treatment. Leaks hint at an A17 Pro chip or newer, which should be enough to run Siri AI locally. There’s also talk of a new Siri Remote, but what exactly would change about it remains unclear.
Taken together, the store changes hint at one thing: Apple finally seems to be ready to modernize its home lineup. That comes after years of delays tied to Siri’s long-delayed overhaul. Whether it means one big September announcement or a staggered rollout, new Home gear should start showing up on Apple’s shelves soon.
Anurag Chawake is a tech-focused writer specializing in smartphones, apps and consumer technology. His interest in computers began during the Windows 98 era, eventually leading him to explore everything from operating systems to mobile devices and PC hardware. Anurag previously contributed to The Indian Express, covering Apple, Android, gaming and the broader technology landscape.
