An Apple smart display designed to rival Amazon’s Echo Show and Google’s Nest Hub appears to be nearing release after years of speculation. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the device, internally codenamed J490, is currently undergoing extensive testing in employees’ homes.
The hardware is expected to feature a versatile design, either resting on a stand reminiscent of a horizontally split HomePod Mini or mounting directly to a wall. It will include a high-resolution display, pervasive Wi-Fi, a camera, and microphones. The user interface is described as a hybrid of iOS, tvOS, and watchOS, with initial setup and certain tasks handled via synchronization with an iPhone.
A standout feature includes facial recognition via the camera system, which will identify users to personalize content such as apps, notes, calendar events, news, music, and podcasts. The screen will also support home screen widgets and clock faces similar to the standby mode found on the iPhone Duo.
At the core of the device is Siri AI, which gained expanded cross-device and cross-account functionality with iOS 27. Users will be able to instruct Siri to locate specific images, play recently shared media, or manage tasks within applications like Calendar and Notes. Although initially targeted for a 2024 debut, the launch was postponed due to challenges associated with Apple Intelligence. Current leaks indicate a potential release later this year, though no official date has been set.
In related news, Gurman reported that Apple abandoned plans for a specialized Pencil stylus designed for the dual-screen iPhone Duo. The custom accessory, intended to be magnetic and shorter, faced technical hurdles prior to mass production. Consequently, the company opted to support the existing iPad Apple Pencil, with compatibility expected to arrive by the end of 2026.
Good riddance about the special stylus. Why buy two? The existing Pencil workaround makes way more sense.
Does this mean I need an iPhone to set it up? Hoping for standalone functionality eventually.
I’m skeptical about the latency. Can Siri really feel instant across multiple apps, or is it just another delayed promise?
Finally! Apple has been teasing this for years. The facial recognition personalization sounds like a game-changer for my kitchen.