Apple sends “Welcome home” invites for a New York event
Invitations point to an “Apple Experience” in Tribeca at 9:00 a.m. Eastern on October 13, and reports expect home devices that Apple hasn't confirmed.
Updated
In short
- 01Apple's Greg Joswiak announced the October 13 date with a two-line teaser on Apple Newsroom and X on October 8.
- 02Apple's events page showed no October 13 listing or livestream when we checked on October 11.
- 03Bloomberg News reported a home hub code-named J490 with a roughly 6-inch screen, but Apple hasn't confirmed it.
The story
Apple's Greg Joswiak posted a two-line teaser on Apple Newsroom and X on October 8, 2026: “Welcome home. October 13.” Invitations sent the same day ask guests to an “Apple Experience” in Tribeca, New York, at 9:00 a.m. Eastern.
YouTuber Marques Brownlee posted his invitation on X, which shows Apple's old rainbow logo with a stitched look. It promises that details to help guests prepare for their arrival will follow closer to the day.
In a Six Colors post, Jason Snell said his understanding is that the Tribeca session will focus on creators, while other press get remote briefings. He expects a 9:00 a.m. video and a batch of press releases, rather than a traditional Apple Event.
Apple hasn't named a product or a livestream
Apple hasn't said what it will show. Its events page still featured its last iPhone event when we checked on October 11, with no listing or stream for October 13.
Reports point to a home hub, a HomePod mini and an Apple TV
Bloomberg News reported on September 30 that Apple planned its long-delayed smart home push for October 13, according to Reuters. The main device is said to be a hub code-named J490, with a roughly 6-inch square screen for walls or countertops.
The same report said the hub would recognize individual household members. It also said Apple would give the HomePod mini its first update since 2020, and the Apple TV box its first since 2022.
The Verge noted separate reports that Apple is working with LG on a video doorbell, a thermostat and an indoor camera. Apple hasn't confirmed any of these devices.
The r/apple thread on the invite had 273 comments when we read it on October 11. About two in five of the 30 most-replied comments were about the Apple TV, mostly wish lists like 120Hz support or audio passthrough.
About one in five joked or worried about prices. That's a snapshot of reactions, not a survey.
Welcome Home. Except you’ll have to sell your home to afford everything.
A Reddit user in r/apple, October 8
The Apple Experience starts at 9:00 a.m. Eastern on October 13 in Tribeca. Apple hasn't said whether it will stream it, or when any new product would go on sale.
Why it matters
A hub with a screen would be Apple's first smart display, a type of device that Amazon and Google already sell. Delays to Siri's AI overhaul reportedly held the hub back. If the reports are right, October 13 tests whether the new Siri is good enough to anchor a home device.
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