iPhone 17 Air and iPad-like smart hub likely to debut together later this year

Apple is currently working on a smart hub, codenamed J490, that will feature a 7-inch display with a square iPad-like design.

Sources reveal that the iPhone 17 Air, in all possibilities, will be debuting with an iPad-like smart hub later this year. The tech giant is working on a smart home hub, codenamed J490, featuring a 7-inch display with a square iPad-like design.

iPhone 17 Air and iPad-like smart hub may be launched later this year.

It is said that the product could be formally introduced at a fall event alongside the iPhone 17 line-up. However, availability and pricing details are yet to be confirmed. While the iPhone 17 series, including the ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air, is expected to dominate headlines this year, Apple is also preparing to launch a new smart home device to challenge Amazon and Google’s dominance.

Apple is working on a smart hub.

According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple is working on a smart home hub, codenamed J490, featuring a 7-inch display with a square iPad-like design. It is said that the device will include a front-facing camera, internal speakers and potentially a built-in battery, allowing for flexible placement around the home. The smart hub will support Apple Intelligence, the company’s AI system designed to power next-generation contextual interactions across devices. It will allow users to control smart home devices, make video calls, and access personal assistant features using touch and voice commands.

The device is expected to function similarly to Amazon’s Echo Show or Google’s Nest Hub. But, it will have deeper integration into Apple’s ecosystem, which includes compatibility with watchOS-style widgets and the iPhone’s Standby mode. A new operating system, potentially named homeOS, may be introduced to power the user interface. After years of limited success, the J490 hub is Apple’s first serious entry into the smart home display market, with HomePod and Apple TV as control points. Reports also suggest that Apple is developing a more advanced smart home product, codenamed J595, including a robotic arm that can reposition the display to follow users around a room. However, the device may take one to two years to enter the market.