Apple has been developing a cutting-edge smart home hub powered by Siri, aiming to rival Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. However, the highly anticipated device has now been delayed indefinitely due to complications with Apple’s AI-driven Siri features. This setback could give competitors like Amazon and Google a crucial advantage in the smart home market.
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Apple’s Smart Home Hub: A Game-Changer Now on Hold
Apple was planning to expand further into the smart home space in 2025 with a new smart home hub. This device, expected to be a combination of a high-quality speaker and a display, had the potential to be one of the best smart speakers available. However, reports now indicate that Apple has postponed the launch for the foreseeable future.
Why Apple’s Smart Home Hub Is Delayed
According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman in his Power On newsletter, Apple originally intended to announce the product in March 2025. However, as more than a third of the month has already passed without an announcement, it is now clear that the launch has been pushed back. The primary reason? Apple’s struggles with rolling out its AI-powered Siri upgrades.
The smart home hub was designed to leverage advanced Siri features that Apple showcased during WWDC 2024. These capabilities included enhanced personal context understanding and the ability to execute in-app tasks seamlessly. However, Apple recently admitted that it needs more time to refine these AI-powered features.
In a statement to Daring Fireball, Apple clarified, “It’s going to take us longer than we thought to deliver on these features, and we anticipate rolling them out in the coming year.”
Because these missing Siri upgrades are integral to the smart home hub’s functionality, Apple reportedly believes the device is not viable without them. As a result, consumers will have to wait for Siri’s advanced AI features before the smart home hub sees the light of day.
Apple at Risk of Losing Ground to Amazon and Google
Apple’s delay comes at a critical time, as Amazon has already taken a significant step forward with its newly announced Alexa+ smart home assistant. This AI-enhanced version of Alexa is designed to improve automation and deliver more intuitive smart home experiences—exactly the market Apple’s device was targeting.
To make matters worse, Gurman’s sources indicate that Apple executives are concerned that Siri’s delayed AI features may need a complete overhaul. If that happens, the next-generation Siri might not be ready until 2026, pushing the smart home hub’s release even further.
This delay could cause Apple to lose momentum in the smart home market, where Amazon’s Echo devices and Google’s Nest products already dominate. If Apple’s AI-powered hub doesn’t launch soon, it risks falling even further behind in an industry that’s advancing rapidly.
Is Apple’s Smart Home Hub Ready?
While Apple’s Siri software is facing challenges, the hardware itself seems to be close to completion. According to Gurman, select Apple employees have been testing the smart home hub in real-world settings, suggesting that the device’s physical design and core functionalities are nearly finalized. However, without Siri’s advanced AI capabilities, the device may not offer the full experience Apple initially envisioned.
When Will Apple’s Smart Home Hub Launch?
At this point, predicting an exact release date for Apple’s smart home hub is difficult. If Apple can resolve Siri’s AI issues within the next few months, the hub could still launch later in 2025. However, if Siri’s AI requires a complete overhaul, the delay might extend into 2026.
For now, Apple users eager to upgrade their smart home setups may have to wait. Meanwhile, Amazon and Google continue to push forward, leaving Apple at risk of falling behind in the AI-powered smart home revolution.
Final Thoughts
Apple’s smart home hub had the potential to shake up the industry, but ongoing Siri setbacks have forced a delay. As Amazon and Google push their AI-driven smart home devices forward, Apple must act quickly to avoid losing ground. Whether the company can overcome these challenges and deliver a truly competitive product remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the smart home market is evolving fast, and Apple can’t afford to fall behind.
Stay tuned for further updates as Apple works to refine Siri and bring its smart home hub to market.