The mystical, shareable tablet device that will act as the central control unit of your Apple Home could finally arrive in late 2026 if a leaker with a limited history is right.
If you've been following AppleInsider long enough, you might have heard of Apple EVT/DVT collector Kosutami. They're a great social media follow for pictures of products that have never seen the light of day, but occasionally, they share a possible leak.
On Thursday, Kosutami shared that the "HomePad" was coming in fall. They're a little more old school in their leaking, providing only a cryptic message.
"Autumn. Home. Integrated with Pad. Now coming." They then quoted that post with "Clearance: HomePad at Fall."
It's clear that they're implying that the device we've dubbed Apple HomeHub will arrive in the fall. Previous rumors paint it as a low-priced tablet device that is carried around the home for access to widgets and Apple Home controls.
A second-generation iteration is expected to act as an AI hub. There are also rumors of a robotic arm that it attaches to that could act with a personality and keep the display in view of the user.
The HomeHub rumors won't die
While nothing has been announced, it seems that 2026 will be a year Apple increases its Apple Home efforts. Part of that is expected to be this HomeHub tablet, a smart doorbell, and security cameras.
It was expected to launch sometime in 2025, but the release window came and went. Rumors suggest Apple is saving the product for the newly revamped Apple Intelligence powered by Apple Foundation Models trained by Google Gemini.
That AI relaunch could occur very soon, as soon as April. So, the countdown to the HomeHub is back on.
If it isn't released in the spring as a part of this Apple Intelligence upgrade, the fall is the next best choice. Kosutami could be relaying supply chain information, or they could simply be guessing.
Kosutami's record
The leaker has a strong, if short, history. The leaks they've gotten wrong have been tied to bad luck more than signs of a poor source.
Apple is expected to have a larger smart home push in 2026
For example, they showed the Apple Watch FineWoven bands ahead of release. They also shared that iPhone 16 would use graphene for additional heat dissipation. Both were accurate leaks.
They were also accurate when they said the iPhone 15 would get USB-C based on an image that was leaked.
They also shared that the iPad mini 7 would launch in the fall of 2024 — correct. That same post said the base iPad would arrive in a similar timeframe, however, that launched in March 2025.
One of the more significant errors was about Apple Watch connectors in December 2023. They said they were 100% confident that the connectors would change in 2024, but they didn't and still haven't.
Other rumors shared that the Apple Watch connectors would change as well, so that one may not be entirely on Kosutami. Apple clearly was testing alternate connectors in that timeframe, but must have decided against it for the final model.
After that particular gaff, Kosutami basically stopped sharing cryptic leaks. Other than the few I've mentioned, they went months only sharing prototypes and opinions.
They've also been showing Apple Vision Pro components in black, suggesting they belonged to Apple's attempt at a cheaper model. One Kosutami refers to as "Air."
Another repeat share is of a large glass cover for a supposed HomePod with a display. Its design suggested an upward-facing display, which is different from the HomeHub rumors that have gone around.
That new HomePod with a display hasn't launched either.
With all this in mind, Kosutami is still considered an accurate leaker worth paying attention to. Once the next Apple Vision Pro, HomePods, and this HomeHub launch, it'll help determine their overall accuracy for future rumors.
