Apple Adds Apple TV Updates to iOS 27 Beta 2 Home App as 7-Inch Hub Nears

Q: Can Apple's pricey AI-powered hub finally challenge the dominance of cheaper smart displays from Amazon and Google?

Not yet—Apple’s rumored AI-powered home hub could become a credible premium alternative, but it is unlikely to dislodge Amazon and Google on price or scale. The strongest case for Apple is ecosystem quality. The new Home app change in iOS 27 beta 2, which lets users remotely update Apple TV software, shows Apple is tightening control of the home around a single app and a tvOS-based platform. That matters because the expected 7-inch hub, reportedly priced around $399, is designed to sit at the center of HomeKit, Apple TV, HomePod and Siri, with video calls, weather, messaging and smart-home controls. If Apple delivers the promised Apple Intelligence features and a more capable Siri this fall, it could offer a smoother, more privacy-focused experience than rivals. But Apple faces clear limits. Amazon’s Echo Show line and Google’s Nest-style displays are much cheaper, widely available and tied to broader device compatibility. Alexa in particular still has an advantage in smart-home reach and voice flexibility. Apple’s Home ecosystem remains more selective, often requiring HomeKit or Matter support, and its hardware typically costs more. So the likely outcome is not mass-market dominance, but a stronger position at the high end. Apple can compete if it turns the hub into the best control center for households already using iPhone, Apple TV and HomePod. It is less likely to win over budget buyers who mainly want an inexpensive screen with broad compatibility.

3 articles · Updated · MacRumors · Jun 22

iOS 27 beta 2 lets users install Apple TV software updates directly from the Home app, without turning on the set-top box.
The change puts Apple TV alongside HomePod and HomePod mini, which already receive updates through the Home app and run a tvOS variant.
Apple's move suggests its planned home hub will also be managed through Home, extending the app's role as the control center for tvOS-based home devices.
That device, expected later this year, is rumored to feature a 7-inch square display, built-in speakers, smart-home controls, video calling, weather info and Siri access.