Apple’s next wave of smart home hardware might already be ready to go; it’s just waiting on Siri to catch up.
According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, new versions of the Apple TV and HomePod mini have reportedly been “ready” since last year. The cause of the hold-up? Apple’s delayed push into AI, specifically its revamped, more personalised Siri experience.
Instead of launching the devices as planned, Apple is reportedly holding them back until its broader Apple Intelligence features are ready to ship. It’s a notable shift for a company whose hardware has historically led the way, not software delays.
That hesitation is starting to show. Current retail stock for both products is reportedly running low. In addition, the absence of updates during Apple’s recent product cycle which included new iPhones, Macs and iPads that suggests something bigger is going on behind the scenes.
Moreover, the upcoming Apple TV is expected to pack the A17 Pro chip with 8GB of RAM, which meets the requirements for Apple’s AI features. It will also have an N1 chip supporting Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6 and Thread. Meanwhile, the next HomePod mini could get an S9 chip upgrade and even a new colour option.
On paper, both devices sound ready to go. But Apple appears unwilling to launch new “smart” hardware without the intelligence to back it up. This caution comes especially as competitors push deeper into AI-powered assistants.
Timing-wise, things could start moving soon. With iOS 26.5 expected to enter beta around late March or early April, a launch window between now and September seems likely. This is assuming Siri’s next-gen upgrades are finally ready.
For now, though, Apple’s AI ambitions are doing something unusual which is holding back hardware that’s already finished.
The post Apple’s AI issues are stopping new products from launching appeared first on Trusted Reviews.