iCulture: Apple schedules October 13 event for smart home hardware
- Apple has officially sent out invitations for a special Apple Experience scheduled for Tuesday, 13 October 2026, at 15:00 Dutch time, iCulture reported.
- The upcoming gathering centres entirely on smart home technology, with at least three major hardware announcements expected by iCulture.
- Additional hardware slated for the presentation includes a refreshed Apple TV and a new HomePod mini 2.
Apple has officially sent out invitations for a special Apple Experience scheduled for Tuesday, 13 October 2026, at 15:00 Dutch time, iCulture reported. Unlike a traditional keynote event, Apple plans to let invited media view and test products directly, mirroring the format used for the MacBook Neo release this spring.
Smart Home Focus Drives the October Event
The upcoming gathering centres entirely on smart home technology, with at least three major hardware announcements expected by iCulture. The lineup features a new 6-inch smart home display known internally as the HomePad. This wall- or stand-mounted device acts essentially as a HomePod equipped with a screen, running standard applications like Calendar, Notes, Reminders, Messages, and FaceTime. Thanks to the selfie camera, you can use it for video calling, but it would also be used to recognize different users in the home.
Additional hardware slated for the presentation includes a refreshed Apple TV and a new HomePod mini 2. Both products will feature faster chips and integrated support for Siri AI, though functionality within the European Union remains under evaluation according to iCulture. For the speaker, new colors – green and pink – are added.
Apple Partners with LG for Smart Home Hardware
Apple is simultaneously forging manufacturing partnerships to expand its footprint in residential technology. Bloomberg reported that Apple is collaborating with South Korean manufacturer LG to build smart home hardware including a smart doorbell, a thermostat, indoor and outdoor security cameras, and a smart door lock, as cited by De Telegraaf. That must, for example, unlock automatically when a resident arrives home. These devices will carry LG branding while utilizing Apple’s design specifications and integration architecture. Everything is built by the Koreans, but Apple thinks along about the design, functions, and technology. Apple also ensures that all products work together without interruption. The devices built together with LG may be announced next week as well, but will go on sale later.
This hardware push places Apple in direct competition with established market leaders. Amazon entered the space through its 2018 acquisition of Ring, while Google established its Nest brand following a 2014 buyout, noted De Telegraaf.
Apple Builds Home Hub Around Upgraded Siri AI
The upcoming home hub and upgraded accessories are built specifically around Siri AI, which entered beta testing on 14 September 2026, according to Yellow.com. The hub, carrying the internal codename J490, utilizes a square display mounted on a semi-circular base and incorporates voice recognition to identify individual household members and display personalized content, Yellow.com added. The hub was originally planned for the spring of 2025, but was delayed while Apple completely rebuilt Siri.
A wall-mounted variant bearing the codename J491 is also in development. Headliner.nl noted that analyst Mark Gurman outlined the online home event during his Power On podcast, confirming that the new hub, HomePod mini, and Apple TV 4K will each highlight enhanced Siri AI capabilities. In his post of 30 September, Gurman had already mentioned 13 October as the launch moment for the same products and described the iMac G4-like design of the hub.
Broadcast Format and Hands-On Access
Apple has not confirmed whether the Welcome Home Experience will feature a live-streamed video production or rely instead on press releases paired with YouTube product videos, according to Headliner.nl. Selected journalists and creators will receive hands-on access to the new devices on the afternoon of the presentation.