Apple Home Hub appears in iOS 27
In iOS 27 beta 2, Apple updated the Home app and added support for remotely updating an Apple TV. This could represent another step towards a central home hub.
Apple TV is now listed in the “Updates” section of the Home app’s settings interface, and tapping the “Apple TV Update” button will install the latest software without needing to turn on the Apple TV.
HomePod and HomePod mini have long been updateable via the Home app, so with the change in iOS 27, Apple TV is catching up. Since HomePod and HomePod mini use a variant of tvOS, it makes sense that Apple TV will be updated in the same way – within a central Home Hub.
Home Hub as a smart home hub
Apple’s decision to include Apple TV in the Home app’s update interface suggests that the upcoming smart home device currently in development will also be controllable and updated via the Home app.
Apple is expected to launch its own smart home hub later this year, running a version of tvOS similar to the HomePod. It will serve as a central control unit for smart home products, enable video calls, provide information such as the current weather, and allow access to Siri. The device is expected to feature a 7-inch square display with integrated speakers and could represent a hybrid between the HomePod and the iPad.
