An artist’s rendition of a HomePod with a display
Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says that Apple’s expected new Home Hub device has been delayed until after WWDC in June 2025.
Variously called a Home Hub or a HomePod with a screen, this new device is expected to be a smart home controller that might in fact resemble an iPad. Whatever it’s ultimately called, code references to what appear to be it were found in February 2024, and a display manufacturer was reportedly selected in January 2025.
One of the few consistent predictions about the device is that it is forever six months away, and one recent report claimed it would now launch in late 2025. Now Ming-Chi Kuo‘s new claim on Twitter backs that up, and says the delay is because of continuing problems with software development.
“Three months ago, I predicted that mass production of the new display-equipped HomePod would slip from 1Q25 to 3Q25 (after WWDC) due to software development issues,” he writes. “Beyond Apple Intelligence, the issues also involve ensuring the HomePod’s interface aligns with new OS updates (like iOS 19) set to roll out across other devices in 2H25.”
“This alignment is essential for seamlessly integrating new products into Apple’s ecosystem,” concludes Kuo.
Apple is certainly delaying elements of iOS, having acknowledged that Apple Intelligence features in Siri are taking longer than expected. It’s also reportedly preparing a dramatic redesign of both iOS and macOS for announcement at WWDC 2025.
So it’s more than possible that work on a Home Hub’s software has been postponed while Apple’s developers concentrate on Apple Intelligence, iOS 19, and macOS 16. It would also be peculiar if the Home Hub launched with the look of iOS 18 if iOS 19 is truly that distinctively different.
Yet saying that Apple has delayed the Home Hub until after WWDC doesn’t make sense. While iOS 19 will be announced in June, it won’t be released publicly until September, or possible even October.
Kuo does also say that the Home Hub will come out in the third quarter, and that does end on September 30, 2025. So rather than implying Apple would ever release something that required beta software, Kuo could mean that the launch will be right at the end of the quarter.
Except that is when the iPhone 17 range will be announced too. Apple does use that event to raise awareness of other devices, most often the Apple Watch, so it could bundle the Home Hub into that announcement.
Only, that iPhone 17 event is expected to introduce a new, slimmer iPhone to the range. So Apple is more likely to be making the iPhone 17 Slim the focus of its spotlight.
Kuo has also been predicting the imminent launch of a HomePod with screen since 2024. Also, while the analyst previously had a strong track record of accuracy, in the last couple of years he has making claims that often appear to be solely speculation.
