Apple delays smart home hub launch due to Siri challenges

If you've been waiting for Apple’s long-rumored smart home hub to make its grand entrance, you might need a little more patience. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple has hit the pause button on the device’s launch, and the reason? Well, Siri just isn’t ready yet.

Apple has been working on a major AI-powered Siri upgrade, aiming for a more personalized and intuitive experience. Originally set to debut with iOS 18.4, these updates have now been pushed back—possibly even into 2026. Since the smart home hub relies heavily on these upgrades, its release is also delayed.

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Apple's smart home hub isn’t just another smart speaker, it is designed to rival Google’s Nest Hub and Amazon’s Echo Show. Roughly the size of two iPhones placed side by side, it features a camera, built-in speakers, and a touchscreen. It controls smart home devices, handles FaceTime calls, displays calendars and notes, and showcases photos. You can also browse the web, stream music, and catch up on news.

The delay makes sense, given Siri's current limitations. Releasing a smart home hub dependent on Siri’s current, somewhat underwhelming capabilities would be a risky move. Compared to Alexa and Google Assistant, Siri still struggles with contextual conversations and complex smart home commands. Apple is avoiding a premature launch that could lead to disappointment.

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While Apple plays the long game, its competitors are moving ahead. Amazon recently announced Alexa Plus, a smarter and more advanced version of its voice assistant, but plans to charge $19.99 per month for non-Prime members. Google has also started rolling out Gemini AI to some Nest speakers, though it’s still in limited beta. While both companies are advancing AI-driven upgrades, neither has fully delivered yet, giving Apple a chance to make a big impact if Siri 2.0 is ready in time.

For now, Apple hasn’t provided a new release date for the smart home hub. But based on reports, the earliest we might see it is later in the year. If Apple stays on course, this could be a massive step forward for its smart home ecosystem.