Apple Delays Smart Home Display to September for Siri

Apple has delayed the launch of its anticipated smart home display until September, as the company continues to refine a major upgrade to its Siri voice assistant, according to people familiar with the matter.

The device, codenamed J490, was initially planned for release in spring 2025 but has faced repeated postponements. Engineers had recently targeted an earlier rollout this year, but challenges in developing a more reliable and intelligent version of Siri have pushed the debut to the fall. The hardware for the display has been complete for several months, yet Apple has decided not to proceed without the enhanced Siri, which forms the core of the product's user interface and functionality.

Described as a compact, square screen resembling a smaller iPad with a roughly 7-inch display, the device can be mounted on a wall or attached to a half-dome-shaped speaker base. It is designed to serve as a central hub for managing smart home devices, making calls, and accessing apps such as Calendar and Reminders. A key feature is its facial recognition system, which identifies approaching users and tailors the interface to display personalized information, including calendars, notes,...