Apple has officially confirmed 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, and here is what to expect from the event.
The event has two components. There is an in-person experience for members of the press in New York City, along with what Mark Gurman has called an "online video presentation." This suggests press releases and a video, or videos, will likely drop around 9 a.m. ET (6 a.m. PT) on October 13. Apple has not confirmed this timing, so the actual launch may vary. At a minimum, Apple will announce something on October 13, and some people will see it in person while others follow along from home.
The headlining announcement will be Apple's long-rumored smart display, which we have been calling the "Home Pad." Apple believes the product can serve as a central hub for the home, 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. It will reportedly come in two variations, one for wall mounting and one for a countertop. Reports have likened the design to Apple's iconic iMac G4. One flagship feature will be its ability to recognize multiple people in a household and dynamically adjust what is shown on the screen.
Apple is also expected to announce a new Apple TV 4K next week, its first update since November 2022. It will reportedly include the A19 or A19 Pro chip, allowing Siri AI and Apple Intelligence features to arrive on the Apple TV for the first time. Code references also point to a feature that would let users arrange four full-sized HomePods in a surround sound system. The HomePod mini 2 will get its first proper upgrade as well, with a much faster chip than the current S5 processor and new colors including pink, white, green, blue and black.
Finally, Apple is reportedly working with LG on new "second-party" accessories for HomeKit.
Source: 9to5Mac · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing