Welcome Home: 4 big Apple announcements coming next week

Macworld October is shaping up to be an exceptionally busy month at Apple Park. The company is readying the iPhone Duo, revamped Health app on iOS 27.2, touchscreen MacBook Pro, and overhauled iPad mini, which could all launch by the end of this month. That won’t be all. Apple announced on Thursday that it will be holding a special “Welcome Home” experience on October 13, where it will presumably launch its new smart home products. According to credible rumors, the devices will include next-generation Apple TV 4K and HomePod mini models, along with a brand-new home hub. While many enthusiasts may perceive some of next week’s Apple TV and HomePod upgrades as unexciting performance boosts, the chip bumps will actually unlock never-before-seen advantages for Apple’s smart home line. An all-new platform The star of the show will undoubtedly be the dedicated home hub—what some are referring to as the HomePad. Hardware-related leaks and OS code ref