Apple’s next smart-home gadget is already hiding in iOS 26.2

Syndication November 5, 2025

Apple’s next smart-home gadget is already hiding in iOS 26.2

Code strings in the latest iOS 26.2 beta suggest Apple is preparing a new first-party smart-home accessory to expand the Apple Home ecosystem beyond the Apple TV and HomePod.

Tablet displaying a layered orange house icon on a white screen, resting on a wooden surface with a small plant in the background.

Apple could release a display for the smart home

Lurking in iOS 26.2, there is a system flag labeled “isFirstPartyAccessory.” Existing smart-home devices use flags like “isAppleTV” and “isHomePod,” but this new entry doesn’t match any current product.

That difference suggests Apple is testing support for a new category of hardware designed in-house. Hidden references like these often appear before hardware announcements and usually indicate upcoming Home integration.

Rumor Score: 🤔 Possible

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