Apple is continuing to develop a smart home hub with an iPad-like display, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports. The device is currently slated for release in 2026 or 2027 with a suggested retail price of around $1,000.

Apple has a team of hundreds of people working on the device, Insiders tell GormanIt’s about one. TabletopA device with an “iPad-like” display. That display is then mounted on a robotic arm that can tilt and rotate the screen 360 degrees. The smart home device will be somewhat different from the Amazon Echo Show 10, Google’s Nest Hub, or Meta’s previous Portal devices, Gurman writes. Apple sees the device as a “command center” for smart homes, a machine for video conferencing via services like FaceTime, and a home security tool.

Users will primarily control the device via Siri and future Apple Intelligence features. For example, according to sources, the smart display could respond to commands like “look at me,” after which the display would automatically be directed toward the user by a robotic arm. During video calls, it should be able to recognize different voices and thus “look” at the person speaking, Gurman wrote. Current test models are running a different version of iPadOS.

The tech giant is said to have already approved the project for 2022, though work has only officially begun in recent months. Apple is now prioritizing development of the device and hopes to debut the product in 2026 or 2027, the insider told Gurman. The company hopes to offer the smart home device for around $1,000, though plans could change during the development process, according to the sources.

The smart display is being led by Kevin Lynch, who previously oversaw Apple’s smartwatch and health teams, as well as the canceled Apple Car. Matt Costella, who led Apple’s HomePod speaker development, will oversee the hardware side of the project. Apple Recently posted vacancies Where you are looking for experienced robotics engineers.