Apple could finally be preparing its answer to Amazon's Echo Show and Google's Nest Hub. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported that Apple plans to introduce a new smart-home hub, an updated HomePod mini and a refreshed Apple TV 4K on Oct. 13, citing people familiar with the company's plans. Reuters separately reported the same expected date.

"Apple plans to introduce a series of new smart home products on Tuesday, October 13," Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported, according to MacRumors' account of the report. Apple could instead announce the devices through press releases or shorter product videos.

"Siri AI is a profoundly more capable and conversational assistant with personal context understanding, broad world knowledge, onscreen awareness, and even more systemwide app actions," Apple says in its Sept. 14 announcement. Gurman has reported that the three-product lineup was originally targeted for 2024 but was delayed while Apple worked on the revamped Siri.

"The new device will have a 6-inch square display that can be mounted on a wall or placed on a countertop," Reuters reported, citing Bloomberg's reporting on Apple's plans. One version is said to sit on a half-dome speaker base. Some reports have informally called the device "HomePad," although Apple has not announced that name.

Internally, the hub is reportedly expected to use an A18 chip or newer and run a new operating system that could be called homeOS. That hardware would give Apple a platform for running its newer Siri capabilities in a dedicated household device rather than relying on an iPhone, iPad or HomePod to provide the interface.

The reported interface would combine elements associated with the iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch. The hub could recognize individual household members through voice or facial recognition and display personalized widgets, calendars and other content.

Other reported functions include FaceTime, HomeKit controls, music and photo playback and customizable clock faces.

"The device is designed to be a central hub for controlling smart home accessories, playing music and videos, making FaceTime calls, and more," The Verge reported based on Gurman's description of the device.

The HomePod mini and Apple TV 4K are reportedly getting less visible changes, but both are expected to gain hardware suited to the same Siri push.

The HomePod mini, which has not received a major hardware refresh since its 2020 debut, is reportedly keeping its current exterior while gaining a newer chip, Siri AI support, improved audio, Apple's N1 wireless chip with Wi-Fi 7, a second-generation Ultra Wideband chip and new colors including green and pink.

The Apple TV 4K, last refreshed in 2022, is reportedly getting a faster processor, more RAM, Siri AI support, the N1 chip with Wi-Fi 7 and an updated Siri Remote. Its external design is expected to remain largely unchanged.

Underlying move reported by Gurman is broader: put Apple's newer Siri capabilities into hardware that can remain present in the home instead of limiting the assistant to devices people already carry or use individually.

Gurman has also reported that Apple is working to expand HomeKit into additional categories of connected devices and bring more third-party manufacturers into its smart-home platform.

Other projects reportedly in development include a privacy-focused home security camera and sensor, plus a more advanced version of the hub with a 9-inch display mounted on a robotic arm that could swivel to follow someone around a room. None of those products is part of the reported Oct. 13 lineup.

"Siri AI can understand personal context across messages, emails, photos, and more, to help users find what they need in the moment," Apple says.

A screen can give Apple a better HomeKit interface, but the product's value will depend on whether Siri can reliably understand household context, personalize what appears on screen and carry out useful actions without creating a new set of problems for the people sharing the home.