The Verge argues that Apple's next major device should be a dedicated smart home computer rather than just another screen-equipped hub. The piece follows Apple CEO John Ternus's description of the iPhone as an "intelligent personal hub" prioritising local processing and privacy, and contends that vision is better suited to a home device that controls and processes connected gadgets locally, improving speed, reliability and privacy while securely storing photos, files, music and films inside the home rather than relying on the cloud.

The article notes that rivals are already moving into this space: at the IFA trade show in Berlin, Anker launched its Eufy MindBase and Ugreen unveiled its HomeAgent, both combining local storage, on-device AI camera processing and smart home hub functions. It argues Apple could go further by also folding in networking, an area where routers and ISPs (such as Comcast, which has had Thread and Matter support since 2022 but never activated it) have lagged, and suggests a single "Apple Home Server" combining Wi-Fi router, Matter/Thread controller, smart home hub and private AI storage could draw on Apple's history with products like AirPort Express, though the piece stresses there is no evidence Apple is actually developing such a device.