Apple could finally gain a direct hardware challenger to Amazon's Echo Show and Google's Nest Hub, if an employee-tested Siri AI smart display ships. The device, internally known as J490, is said to be widely trialed in employees' homes and may arrive later this year, though Apple has not announced a date.
The unit would either stand on a base similar to a halved HomePod Mini or attach to a wall, and it combines a smaller echo-show-style screen with pervasive Wi-Fi, an upgraded display, a camera and multiple microphones. Its software reportedly blends elements of iOS, tvOS and watchOS, and setup would be tied to an iPhone for some tasks.
One notable capability under discussion is facial recognition, which would identify who is looking at the screen and tailor content such as apps, notes, calendar entries, news, music and podcasts for that person. The display would show a home screen with widgets and clock faces comparable to the iPhone Duo's standby mode, and its core functions would center on Siri AI, the conversational assistant introduced with iOS 27.
Siri AI on the device is described as able to search across devices and accounts, surface recent messages like a shared podcast or song, locate specific images, and carry out actions inside apps such as Calendar and Notes. The hardware was originally expected as early as 2024, but development slipped after problems with Apple Intelligence delayed the project. Broad testing in employee homes is the signal that Apple may be closing the gap between prototype and product.
Separately, Apple reportedly abandoned a shorter, magnetic Pencil designed for the dual-screen iPhone Duo after encountering production problems, and instead will support the existing iPad Apple Pencil by the end of 2026. For the home display, the next steps are wider testing, finalising hardware and software, and a commercial launch window that remains unconfirmed.
