Apple’s silence about HomePod and Apple TV at WWDC spoke volumes

WWDC 2026 was virtually totally targeted on AI bulletins. Apple launched Siri AI, expanded the capabilities of Apple Intelligence throughout the iPhone, iPad, and Mac, and spent a big period of time discussing how AI allows new methods for customers to work together with their gadgets utilizing pure language.

However as I watched the occasion, there was one obtrusive omission. I couldn’t cease fascinated about two main merchandise that Apple didn’t point out in the course of the keynote: HomePod and Apple TV. There wasn’t even a small teaser of what’s coming for Apple’s residence equipment.

And truthfully, that silence says rather a lot. As a result of if there’s one factor WWDC 2026 made clear, it’s that Apple’s future AI ambitions require much more highly effective {hardware} than the corporate’s present sensible residence gadgets can ship.

Apple Intelligence has outgrown the present HomePod

After all of the AI bulletins at WWDC 2026, the present HomePod lineup now looks as if a factor of the previous, caught in one other period of Siri.

The HomePod mini nonetheless runs on the S5 chip from the Apple Watch Sequence 5, whereas the 2nd-generation HomePod makes use of the S7 chip initially launched within the Apple Watch Sequence 7. Each are completely able to taking part in music, dealing with timers, and controlling HomeKit equipment.

Nevertheless, these chips have been by no means designed for contemporary AI workloads. And after seeing what Siri AI can now do in iOS 27, it’s turning into apparent that Apple’s sensible residence merchandise want a large {hardware} refresh.

The brand new Siri isn’t simply answering easy instructions anymore. It understands conversational context, remembers earlier interactions, analyzes content material on-screen, and integrates deeply with apps and private knowledge.

This requires considerably extra reminiscence and processing energy than any present HomePod has. The brand new Siri AI has the identical necessities as Apple Intelligence: the A17 Professional or M1 chip or later. However to get a extra superior AI mannequin, you want a tool with the A19 Professional or M3 chip or later. On the Apple Watch, which makes use of the identical SiP because the HomePod, assist is proscribed to gadgets with the S9 chip and later.

That is most likely why Apple prevented speaking about each the HomePod and Apple TV at WWDC.

The rumored HomePad all of the sudden makes much more sense

For months now, rumors have advised Apple has been engaged on a completely new sensible residence class.

Macworld beforehand revealed references in leaked code pointing to a thriller Apple sensible residence accent with a show, app assist, and deeper HomeKit integration. Different leaked references additionally pointed towards up to date HomePod mini {hardware} and new wi-fi applied sciences being examined internally.

Different sources have claimed that these merchandise have been prepared for a while however have had their launch delayed. After WWDC 2026, it grew to become clearer that Apple was ready for Siri AI earlier than updating its sensible residence equipment.

Apple clearly desires Siri AI to grow to be a central interface layer throughout its ecosystem, and the rumored HomePad would immediately grow to be the right product to showcase all of the capabilities of Apple’s new assistant. A tool with a bigger show, a extra highly effective chip, and deeper AI integration may lastly give Apple a correct AI-focused residence hub.

Proper now, the HomePod sits in an ungainly place in comparison with opponents. Amazon and Google already deal with their sensible shows as AI-first gadgets. Apple’s present HomePods nonetheless largely behave like conventional sensible audio system with restricted voice instructions largely targeted on music and primary instructions.

However with Siri AI, HomePods would grow to be far more helpful. Not solely would you be capable to ask it to play your favourite songs in a extra pure method, however you possibly can additionally ask about issues associated to your messages, emails, and calendar with out having to select up your cellphone.

Apple TV + Siri AI

The identical drawback applies to the Apple TV. In response to current rumors, Apple has been engaged on a brand new Apple TV mannequin powered by the A17 Professional chip. That’s a large leap in comparison with the present Apple TV {hardware}, which nonetheless runs on the iPhone 13’s A15 chip.

When this rumor first surfaced, some folks thought there was no want for a tool primarily designed for streaming to have such a robust chip. In fact, video games would profit from the improved GPU within the A17 Professional chip, however there’s most likely one other facet to the story.

The A17 Professional chip would additionally permit Apple to carry Apple Intelligence assist to Apple TV. And on this new period of Siri AI, that might make good sense.

Think about having the ability to ask Siri contextual questions on what you’re watching, having AI-generated suggestions primarily based on conversations taking place in Messages, or controlling your sensible residence naturally via the TV with out outdated voice instructions.

These experiences require much more highly effective {hardware} than the present Apple TV was initially designed round. And similar to with HomePod, Apple wasn’t prepared to speak about these ambitions publicly but because the present {hardware} isn’t succesful.

This new period may start later this 12 months

Apple didn’t skip the HomePod or Apple TV at WWDC as a result of it forgot about these merchandise or as a result of they aren’t necessary.

The corporate clearly is aware of Siri’s repute within the sensible residence house hasn’t been nice. The outdated model of Siri struggled with conversational requests, misunderstood instructions incessantly, and sometimes felt unreliable in comparison with newer AI assistants.

That’s why Apple appears to be ready for brand spanking new {hardware} that may ship the identical Siri AI expertise that the most recent iPhones, iPads, and Macs already provide. And this new {hardware} might arrive later this 12 months.

Provided that there are clear references to those gadgets within the code of the most recent model of iOS, and that different sources have already confirmed that new variations of the HomePod and Apple TV have been prepared for fairly a while, the announcement is now imminent.

And what higher time to announce these new merchandise than after the official launch of iOS 27 and Siri AI this fall? Extra than simply software program updates, we might lastly see the announcement of merchandise designed with Siri AI in thoughts. And that’s extremely thrilling for these of us who depend on Apple’s sensible residence ecosystem.