Apple sets Oct. 13 ‘Welcome home’ launch in New York

Apple ↘ 1.11% will hold a product launch on Tuesday, October 13, under the tagline "Welcome home." Marketing chief Greg Joswiak announced the date Thursday in a short teaser video on X. Invitations sent to press describe an "Apple Experience" in Tribeca, New York, at 9 a.m. ET. The launch is widely expected to be the company's biggest move into the smart home so far, led by a hub with a display that was held back while Apple finished its AI-powered Siri.iphoneincanada+4

What Apple has said

The 17-second clip shows hands stitching Apple's retro six-color logo into an embroidery hoop, one stripe at a time. The words "Welcome home." and "October 13" then appear underneath. "We look forward to welcoming you to an Apple Experience," the invitation reads. Apple has not said which products it will introduce. It also hasn't said whether there will be a public presentation or only press releases. iClarified noted that the 9 a.m. time applies to the press gathering and that no livestream has been announced. Apple used the "Apple Experience" label for smaller press sessions in March, not a full keynote at Apple Park.theapplepost+4

The expected lineup

The main product is expected to be a home hub, informally called HomePad. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported that it has the code name J490 and a square display of about six inches, in countertop and wall-mounted versions. Gurman has said the countertop model could look like the iMac G4. Using a camera and a presence sensor, the hub is reported to recognize members of a household and show each person their own calendar, messages and widgets. Reported pricing is around \$350. A guest mode would hide personal information from visitors.macrumors+3

Reports also point to updates for two existing products:iphoneincanada+1

• HomePod mini: its first refresh since 2020, with new colors including pink and green.
• Apple TV: its first new set-top box since 2022.

The HomePod mini is expected to get the N1 networking chip and a faster processor. The Apple TV 4K is expected to get an A19-class chip, more RAM and an updated Siri Remote.macrumors

Gurman also reported that Apple co-developed a doorbell, thermostat, smart lock and security cameras with LG Electronics. Those products will carry LG's brand. They are reportedly behind Apple's own hardware and may not reach consumers for several months, so they might only be previewed on October 13.iclarified+1

Delayed by Siri

Apple reportedly wanted to release the hub in 2025, but delays to its upgraded Siri pushed it back. Siri AI was released in September with a beta label. According to reports, the new HomePod mini and Apple TV have also been ready for some time and were waiting on the assistant. The hub would compete with smart displays from Amazon Amazon.com, Inc. ↗ 3.29% and Google Alphabet Inc. ↗ 0.87%.t2online+1

This will be Apple's second round of product launches under chief executive John Ternus. It comes 10 days before the foldable iPhone Duo goes on sale on October 23.t2online