The new "HomePad" could be the key element that Apple's smart home has always needed.

This year, Apple will release three new home products, and the first one is particularly exciting. It's a brand-new smart display that I call “HomePad,” and it fulfills a key need that the Apple smart home ecosystem has always faced.

Apple Home Is Finally Getting Its First True Command Center

Apple has always supported the concept of "Home Hub" within its own products.

As this support document states, you can use HomePod, HomePod mini, Apple TV, or even iPad as a “Home Hub.”

But what does that actually mean? It simply means your Home Hub lets you control smart home accessories and execute automations even when you're away from home.

Being a Home Hub doesn't necessarily mean it's the central hub for all your smart home needs. Instead, you just get some connectivity advantages.

However, the upcoming HomePad will be a true “Home Hub” in another way: as a physical control center for interacting with smart home accessories.

The original HomePod was positioned as such a device, but controlling home accessories through it relied entirely on Siri.

Whether you have a good or bad experience with Siri, it's still not quite good enough. Because Siri on the HomePod is only voice-controlled, it can't be a truly comprehensive smart home “command center.”

However, with HomePad, users can use both Siri and the touch display to view and control all smart home accessories.

This idea isn't entirely new. You can already use various other screens to control home accessories—your iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, Apple TV 4K, or even Vision Pro all support this.

But there has never been a screen specifically provided by Apple that is designed to be a Home Hub and a central control point for smart homes.

HomePad Will Make Smart Home Control Effortless

Some users have repurposed old iPads as smart home control centers, but the iPad wasn't designed for this role. It doesn't run an operating system optimized for this task.

In contrast, HomePad will...

It's a 7-inch square display that can sit on your kitchen counter, fridge, or bedside table, acting as your dedicated physical controller for your smart home.

Some users are perfectly fine controlling their home accessories entirely with Siri and can continue doing so.

But for many non-tech-savvy individuals, having a physical controller to see and touch will be a key improvement.

And if Apple manages to price HomePad affordably enough to place multiple ones around the house, you'll always have a convenient smart home control center at your fingertips.

Amazon and Google have offered smart hubs with displays for a long time, but for Apple Home users, HomePad should finally meet our expectations.

Do you plan on using HomePad as your smart accessory command center? Why or why not? Let us know in the comments below.

Best HomeKit Smart Home Accessories

• TP-Link Tapo 2K Camera with HomeKit Secure Video
• Smart Air Purifier with Matter Connectivity
• Home Smart Lock System
• Home Smart Plugs 4 Pack
• ecobee Smart Thermostat