Apple is reportedly planning to unveil a smart-home hub on October 13, 2026, alongside updates to HomePod mini and Apple TV. The hub is intended as a shared household screen, with an AI-enhanced version of Siri at the center of the reported lineup.
J490 is described as a fixed home display
J490 is the project’s reported internal code name. The described design uses a roughly 6-inch square screen, with a tabletop version on a round speaker base and an adjustable arm, or a wall-mounted version with a base beneath the screen. The hub would have no battery and would draw power through USB-C, keeping it tethered to an outlet. HomePad is an informal label for the rumored device.
That fixed, shared screen is meant to give household members a common place for smart-home controls and everyday media, rather than another display they carry from room to room.
Siri would personalize the shared screen
Voice or facial recognition would reportedly tailor the interface for different household members. A visitor mode would hide personal information, while iPhone authentication could be required or used as a fallback. Facial recognition is described as less reliable than iPhone Face ID.
The reported uses extend beyond device controls: video calls, intercom-style communication, music, iCloud photo slideshows and kitchen information such as recipes. These functions would make the hub a shared home screen as well as a smart-home control point.
HomePod mini and Apple TV round out the reported lineup
The October 13 plan also includes an updated HomePod mini and a new Apple TV set-top box. The HomePod mini, introduced in 2020, is reportedly due for its first update; the three-product lineup is described as having AI-enhanced Siri in common.
