Apple is poised to finally commit to smart home hardware under its incoming CEO, John Ternus, after years of ceding ground to Amazon and Google.
The Verge reports that Ternus, who will develop into Apple’s next chief executive officer effective September 1, 2026, is reportedly leading the charge on a trio of home products despite having taken “some responsibility” a decade ago for Apple falling behind in the category.
Apple has shipped only three smart speakers and smart displays over the last decade, compared to more than 40 launched by Amazon and Google, yet it has built a privacy-focused, locally controlled platform for third-party devices that gained traction through its investment in Matter.
The rumored lineup includes a “HomePad” — a roughly 7-inch-square touchscreen smart display with facial recognition, FaceTime, presence sensing, and control of lights, locks, and cameras — available in wall-mounted and speaker-base form factors.
Additional rumors point to dedicated Apple Home security cameras, a video doorbell, and a standalone sensor, all featuring facial recognition and presence sensors designed to feed into Apple Home and provide context to Siri for a more ambient experience.
Apple’s existing solution for privacy-conscious visual awareness comes through HomeKit Secure Video, which allows connected cameras to detect activity without streaming or recording video.
If realized, these products could address a core struggle in the smart home: shared control, enabling everyone in the household to interact with the system and allowing the home to react to individuals rather than relying on a single phone.
Why has Apple been slow to ship smart home hardware?
Apple’s historical reluctance to invest deeply in the smart home, acknowledged by Ternus himself a decade ago, contributed to its lag behind competitors who flooded the market with speakers and displays.
What gives Apple an edge in the smart home despite its hardware gaps?
Apple’s strength lies in its privacy-focused, locally controlled platform for third-party devices, which gained momentum through its backing of the Matter standard, even as its own hardware offerings remained sparse.
How could the rumored HomePad improve smart home usability?
The HomePad’s facial recognition and presence sensing could enable shared, individualized control — letting any household member interact with the system and allowing the home to respond to who is present, rather than being tied to one person’s phone.