Apple is preparing for a major investment in the smart home industry, as shown by recent updates in the latest tvOS 26 beta. One of the most striking modifications is the possible substitution of the HomeKit brand with a new, unified label: ‘Apple Home.’
### ‘Apple Home’ as the New Identity for Smart Home Offerings
Speculations from last autumn hinted that 2025 would be a crucial year for Apple in the smart home sector. This expected transformation was anticipated to begin in March with the introduction of a new product—a smart display that merges features of both an iPad and a HomePod. Nevertheless, this product has encountered delays, mainly due to reliance on Siri enhancements that were not rolled out on time.
Regardless of the delay with the smart display, Apple still intends to launch two new Home products this year: a new Apple TV 4K and the HomePod mini 2. The smart display, potentially termed HomePod Touch, is now projected to make its appearance in 2026 alongside other fresh Home devices.
As Apple gears up for this wave of new products, it seems to be unifying its branding for smart home offerings. Reports indicate that tvOS 26 beta 5 has substituted mentions of ‘HomeKit’ in the Settings app with ‘Apple Home.’ This transition implies that Apple Home will act as the consolidated branding for all smart home-related endeavors.
The choice to streamline branding is likely intended to bolster Apple’s foothold in the smart home arena. The move from HomeKit to Apple Home could enhance the company’s strategy and product lineup in this domain.
### Conclusion
The prospective elimination of the ‘HomeKit’ designation in favor of ‘Apple Home’ underscores Apple’s dedication to establishing a more integrated and targeted smart home strategy. With new products on the way and a rebranding initiative in progress, Apple is positioning itself to make a noteworthy impact in the smart home market.
