We already know that Apple plans to enter new product categories to broaden its portfolio and fuel future growth. After the mixed-reality headset Vision Pro, the Cupertino tech giant is reportedly venturing into a new market, and this time, it’s smart home IP cameras. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo revealed That Apple will enter the smart home market by 2026, aiming to compete with third-party HomeKit cameras. In addition to smart home cameras, Apple plans to release updated AirPods with more health management features.
According to Kuo, Apple will begin mass production of smart home cameras in 2026, and apparently they aim to sell millions of cameras in the long term. The report mentions that Apple’s smart home cameras will feature wireless connectivity and a rich integration with Apple Intelligence and Siri. This will allow the giant company to launch it AI suite of features For home. Apart from these, he did not reveal any specific details.
Before, we have heard such rumors Apple is working on a smart home hub device It is expected to arrive in 2025. That smart home display could have a HomePod-like speaker with a smaller display for a visual user interface. In addition, it will have Apple Intelligence at its core and a Brand new operating system called “HomeOS”. Apple’s smart home display will directly compete with Echo Show, Google Nest and Meta Portal. We also hear that Apple is working on a home robot with an advanced display and an articulated robot arm that will follow the user around the house.
Talking about AirPods, Kuo mentioned that Apple will position its future AirPods as health management devices. The updated model will have “more health-focused features” like the Apple Watch. With health sensor, Apple may also add cameras and AI features to AirPods, According to previous rumors and leaks.
Chinese manufacturer Goertek has secured NPI and will lead production of the 2026 AirPods models. Additionally, GoerTech will assemble Apple’s new smart home cameras.
In a recent newsletter, Mark Gurman also mentioned that Apple will enter several new businesses and strengthen its existing categories to increase its revenue streams. The tech titan’s current strategy of entering the smart home camera and wearable category in the future reveals the ambition to break into and dominate more product lines.
