Apple’s long-delayed HomePod with a built-in display could finally hit shelves in 2026, after repeated setbacks.

The device, which is expected to be the first screen-centric HomeKit hub, was initially slated for Q1 2025 but then pushed back into the third quarter.

Until now, Apple watchers lacked much credible information on how things were progressing and whether the revised deadline would be met.

Now Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has predicted in his Power On newsletter that a HomePod mini refresh may land this year, with the long-awaited display model following in 2026.

The new unit will reportedly run a dedicated home OS, rumoured to be called ‘Charismatic’. This will anchor Apple’s smart home ecosystem with visual controls, instead of relying solely on voice.

Apple’s timing means it’s likely to face an uphill battle, at least in Australia.

Amazon is preparing an upgraded Alexa lineup.

Google is enthusiastically backing ‘Gemini for Home’, its AI-driven assistant.

Apple’s much-anticipated HomePod will have style, but will it have substance?

Apple has already explored ways to integrate Google’s Gemini with Siri.

That’s an admission Apple’s in-house voice assistant lags well behind Alexa and Gemini for functionality.

A 2024 Edison Research study found 34% of Australians own a smart speaker. Google Nest has about a quarter of the local market and Amazon Echo claims about a tenth. Apple is bringing up the rear with 4%.

That leaves Apple as a bit player in a market where more than six million households already use smart home gear.

The big question is whether Apple is too late to the party.

The company has consistently lagged in the smart home market, where consumers already lean heavily on Google and Amazon.

An elegantly designed device will likely appeal to Apple’s many passionate fans. But broader adoption may depend on whether Siri can be meaningfully upgraded.