## Apple TV Set: A Resurgence of Speculation?
The whispers of an Apple-branded television set have reemerged, echoing similar conjectures from 2011-2014. While the earlier buzz ultimately fizzled out, the current speculation aligns with Apple’s renewed focus on the smart home market, a potential catalyst for this long-rumored product.
### Apple’s Smart Home Ecosystem: Laying the Groundwork?
Mark Gurman of Bloomberg reports that Apple is exploring the possibility of an Apple TV as part of its broader smart home strategy. With the company seeking new revenue streams, a successful launch of initial smart home offerings could pave the way for a television set. This aligns with Apple’s push to become a central player in the connected home experience.
### The Impending Smart Home Hub: A Glimpse into the Future
Projected for release as early as March 2025, Apple’s smart home hub, envisioned as a central command center, will be the company’s first dedicated smart home control product. While the Apple TV and HomePod currently function as HomeKit hubs, this new device is specifically designed to manage HomeKit and Matter-compatible devices, potentially revolutionizing the smart home experience.
Gurman describes the device as having a six-inch square display, resembling an iPad but with thick bezels, a rechargeable battery, integrated speakers, and a FaceTime camera. Its potential to be wall-mounted or docked, coupled with Apple Intelligence and Siri integration, positions it as a versatile life management tool. Furthermore, its proximity sensors, capable of tailoring displayed information based on user location, hint at sophisticated HomeKit automation possibilities. The success of this hub could trigger a wave of Apple-designed home products, potentially including the elusive television.
### Expanding the Smart Home Portfolio: Beyond the Hub
Apple is reportedly considering a range of smart home accessories, including cameras slated for 2026 production. This expansion beyond the Apple TV and HomePod into areas currently dominated by third-party manufacturers signals Apple’s ambition to control a larger share of the smart home market, leveraging its privacy-focused approach.
### From Whispers to Reality: A Shifting Landscape
The earlier Apple TV rumors, fueled by Steve Jobs’s reported ambition to revolutionize television, ultimately proved unfounded. Market realities, including low profit margins and slow product turnover, seemed to deter Apple at the time. However, the landscape has changed significantly. Apple’s foray into original content with Apple TV+, coupled with advancements in display technology and a growing ecosystem of devices and services, creates a more compelling argument for an Apple-branded television.
### The Path Forward: A Potential Timeline
With the smart home hub anticipated in early 2025 and smart home cameras potentially following in 2026, an Apple television set, if it materializes, could be a late-decade reality. Apple’s need for new revenue drivers, given the saturated smartphone market and the setbacks in its automotive and AR/VR ventures, further strengthens the possibility of this long-awaited product finally coming to fruition. The convergence of Apple’s evolving smart home strategy, its growing content library, and its technological prowess may finally create the perfect conditions for an Apple TV set to enter the market.
