Apple’s long-awaited smart home display has been pushed back once more, and this time the company is not hiding the reason. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reported on March 9 that the HomePad, internally codenamed J490, will not arrive until fall 2026. That’s a significant slip from Apple’s original spring 2025 target, and then its revised early 2026 window. The device itself has reportedly been hardware-complete for months. The problem, as it keeps being, is Siri.
This marks at least the third delay for a product that many expected to already be on store shelves. For Apple fans waiting on a proper smart home hub to rival Amazon’s Echo Show or Google’s Nest Hub, the wait is getting harder to justify — especially when Apple’s competitors have been refining their AI-powered displays for years.
What Is the HomePad?
The HomePad is Apple’s answer to the smart home display category. Based on extensive reporting from Mark Gurman at Bloomberg and prototype leaks from collector Kosutami, here is what we know about the device so far.
The J490 features a 7-inch square touchscreen display that attaches to a circular speaker base, resembling a modern take on the classic iMac design. The screen is removable and can be mounted magnetically to a wall, thanks to a MagSafe-style system. A single USB-C port sits on the back, and the device is finished in Apple’s signature silver aluminum.
The home screen borrows the circular icon layout from Apple Watch and is designed for glanceable, shared household use. Its headline feature is a built-in facial recognition system that identifies household members as they approach. Once recognized, the display surfaces personalized content such as calendar events, reminders, music preferences, news, and weather — all without needing to ask.
According to leaker Kosutami, the device will be priced around $350. A larger version with a 9-inch display and a robotic arm that can tilt and swivel is also reportedly in development, though that product has now been pushed to 2027.
Why Is the HomePad Still Delayed?
The core issue is Siri — specifically, the overhaul Apple has been working on for years that has yet to ship in any meaningful form.
Apple originally intended to launch the HomePad alongside the revamped, LLM-powered version of Siri, which was planned to debut with iOS 26.4. Internal testing showed that the new Siri still was not reliable enough for public release, and those features were pushed first to iOS 26.5 and then further into iOS 27, which is expected alongside iPhone 18 Pro in September.
The HomePad’s entire experience is built around Siri. Unlike a product such as the iPhone, which can ship without AI features and receive them via a software update later, the HomePad is designed from the ground up to showcase conversational, context-aware AI as its primary interface. Without a functioning next-generation Siri, the device would be an expensive clock with a speaker base.
Apple has reportedly signed a deal with Google to integrate Gemini’s language capabilities into Siri, giving it stronger reasoning and conversational skills. But that work is still being finalized, further tightening the timeline.
Apple’s Bigger Smart Home Problem
The HomePad delay is not just about one device. It reveals a broader issue in Apple’s home strategy.
The Apple TV 4K has not been updated since 2022. A new HomePod mini has been rumored for well over a year. According to Gurman, both devices are also tied to the same Siri upgrade, meaning they will likely arrive as a package alongside the HomePad in fall 2026.
Apple is apparently planning a coordinated smart home launch — HomePad, new Apple TV, new HomePod mini — all powered by the same revamped Siri. The ambition is clear. But while Apple has been waiting to get Siri right, Amazon and Google have been shipping iterative improvements to their own AI-powered displays and speakers for years.
The new Siri is now expected with iOS 27, which means the earliest anyone sees these products is September 2026. And that timeline assumes everything goes to plan — which, given Apple’s recent track record with Siri, is not a given.
What This Means for You
If you were holding off on buying a smart home display waiting for Apple’s version, fall 2026 is now the earliest realistic window. The device sounds genuinely impressive on paper, particularly the facial recognition and personalized ambient features. Whether the finished product lives up to those promises will depend entirely on whether Apple Intelligence and the new Siri are ready.
For now, the HomePad remains vaporware — a device that exists, works in hardware form, and is sitting in a lab somewhere waiting for software that should have been ready a year ago.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Apple HomePad?
Apple HomePad is a rumored smart home display currently codenamed J490 internally. It features a 7-inch touchscreen, facial recognition, a circular speaker base, and is designed to serve as a household hub for Siri, smart home controls, music, calendar, and more.
When will Apple HomePad come out?
According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the HomePad is currently targeting a fall 2026 launch, likely in September alongside the iPhone 18 Pro. It was previously expected in spring 2025, then early 2026, before being delayed again.
Why is Apple HomePad delayed?
The HomePad hardware is reportedly finished. The delay is entirely due to Apple’s next-generation Siri not being ready. The new Siri, powered by Apple Intelligence and Google Gemini, has been pushed from iOS 26.4 to iOS 27, which ships in September.
How much will the Apple HomePad cost?
Based on multiple reports, the HomePad is expected to be priced around $350. However, Apple has not officially confirmed pricing.
Will there be a larger Apple HomePad?
Yes. A 9-inch version with a robotic arm that can tilt and swivel the screen is reportedly in development, but that model has been pushed to 2027.
Final Thoughts
Apple’s HomePad delay is frustrating but, at this point, expected. The company has made it clear it would rather wait and get Siri right than ship a half-baked smart home experience. Whether that patience pays off — and whether the result is actually better than what Amazon and Google already offer — is the question Apple will need to answer this fall.
Keep an eye on WWDC in June for what could be the first official preview of the new Siri and, potentially, the HomePad itself.
source: Bloomberg (link)
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