Apple is expected to launch a new smart home hub device called 'HomePad' in October, featuring a square screen, custom Siri AI operating system, and integration with connected home devices and Apple services. The device will sync with iPhones and offer capabilities like video calls, intercom, and advanced searches across user accounts.
iOS 27 launched with Apple Intelligence features that include daily usage limits for all users, but iCloud+ subscribers receive higher limits for advanced features like image generation. iCloud+ also unlocks new AI-powered Home features including video descriptions and clip search for HomeKit Secure Video cameras.
Apple Home's new AI-powered security camera features, included with iOS 27 and tvOS 27, require expensive iCloud subscriptions costing up to $60 per month for five cameras—a dramatic increase from the previous $1-per-month baseline. The features include AI video summaries, multi-camera clip stitching, and advanced search, but critics argue the pricing is excessive compared to competitors like Amazon Ring and Google Nest, which offer similar capabilities for around $20 monthly.