Apple’s New Vision for Smart Home and Television(TV)
Apple could be finally making an Apple TV mac rumor — not the little box that we already have, but an actual real big television set that’s branded by Apple into everything. There’s also a potential new smart hub display coming earlier than you think, possibly in early 2025.
Between 2011 and 2014, there were numerous rumors about an Apple-branded television set that would disrupt the TV industry, but obviously, no such product ever materialized. Now, the TV rumors are coming back in full force. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple has been evaluating the idea of making an Apple-branded TV set as part of its new smart home push. Apple is investing resources into the smart home as it looks for new ways to generate revenue, and if some of the first smart home products are successful, a TV could be part of the roadmap.
Apple TV Concept
Let’s try to visualize what this Apple TV could look like. I absolutely love some of the panels that Apple has made in the past, but Apple’s never really done anything quite as large as a television set — something in the 55, 65, 75, or maybe even 85-inch range. One would guess it would be an OLED TV with an Apple TV box baked right inside, while retaining a form factor that’s probably really thin, as that seems to be Apple’s theme this year. But this is just a guess — perhaps Apple might go for a thicker TV, incorporating some of the industrial design elements from the Studio Display or, better yet, the Pro Display XDR.
The TV would obviously work seamlessly with other Apple products. You’d have AirPlay 2, HomeKit, easy connectivity between AirPods and HomePods — essentially, the entire experience you already get now with an Apple TV box, but built directly into the TV. So why would Apple do something like this? It’s part of their smart home initiative, a strategy they seem to be pursuing to further expand their revenue streams.
Smart Hub or Command Center Device
- Another product rumored to be coming, potentially as early as the first part of 2025, is a Smart Hub or Command Center device. This would be dedicated to controlling smart home products. We’ve discussed this concept before, but it looks like we’re getting more details about it. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, this smart home device will have a 6-inch square display and will be similar in design to an iPad, but not rectangular. It will have thick bezels around the edges, a rechargeable battery, built-in speakers, and a camera at the top for FaceTime.
- Apple plans to allow users to mount the device on a wall or place it on a desktop with a dock. Customers could have multiple units in different rooms, each one controlling smart home products. The hub will function as a life management device, integrating Apple intelligence and Siri, alongside widgets that display important information and Apple apps like Calendar, Photos, Home, Apple News, Apple Music, and Notes.
- Sensors inside the hub would detect whether a person is in the room, and adjust the information displayed on the screen based on the person’s position. This “presence sensing” could also be used in various HomeKit automations, potentially leading to some really interesting functionalities. If this product is successful, it could lead to a line of Apple-designed in-home products, including the anticipated television set.