Apple is reshuffling parts of its retail stores ahead of its next wave of home products. The company is reportedly redesigning the “Avenues,” the wall displays that showcase accessories in Apple Stores, to make room for upcoming additions to its home lineup.
Some of those products are familiar. Apple is preparing updated versions of the Apple TV and HomePod mini with faster processors but few outward changes.
The bigger addition is expected to be Apple’s new home hub. The device, which has been in development for more than two years, is expected to feature a roughly 7-inch square display and come in tabletop and wall-mounted versions.
Siri AI is expected to be at the center of the experience. Recent code found in macOS Tahoe 26.7 offers a clearer picture of how the software will work.
The home screen appears to be built around widgets, app icons, and clock faces. Widgets can be pulled from a paired iPhone, including those from third-party apps, while personal information remains hidden unless the owner’s iPhone is nearby.
Apple also appears to be planning dedicated retail space for the category rather than treating the products as accessories alongside Apple TV boxes and HomePods.
That would make sense. Unlike an Apple TV, the home hub introduces a new way of interacting with Apple’s smart home platform and is expected to be demonstrated rather than simply displayed on a shelf.
The device could arrive sometime between October and early next year. The retail changes suggest the company is preparing for more than routine updates to the Apple TV and HomePod mini. They point to the debut of an entirely new product category inside Apple’s stores.
