Apple Confirms October 13, LG Reportedly Builds Accessories, and Hue Runs Zigbee and Matter at Once

Apple has confirmed October 13. We look at which home devices Apple could unveil that day. Plus reports of LG accessories, Hue firmware that runs Zigbee and Matter side by side, Shelly switches without a neutral wire, and new signs of surround sound with four HomePods. We close with a tip on Adaptive Lighting.

Apple Confirms October 13: "Welcome home."

It's official: on October 8, Apple's marketing chief Greg Joswiak teased a launch with the words "Welcome home. October 13." It probably won't be a traditional keynote. Journalists and creators are invited to an "Apple Experience" in New York at 9 a.m. ET. Whether Apple will stream anything is still unclear.

Apple isn't saying which products are coming. The tagline fits what Bloomberg has been reporting for weeks: new devices for your home.

Smart Display, HomePod mini, and Apple TV 4K: What Apple Could Unveil

Apple hasn't confirmed any of these devices. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, all three are built around the new Siri in iOS 27.

• Hub: Rumors point to a square, roughly six-inch display that would either sit on a speaker base or be mounted on the wall. A FaceTime camera is said to recognize who is standing in front of it. Gurman hasn't mentioned a price recently. In fall 2025, he put it at around $350.
• HomePod mini: The design is reportedly unchanged. New colors such as pink and green are rumored, along with a faster processor and, according to MacRumors, Apple's N1 chip with Wi-Fi 7.
• Apple TV 4K: It's rumored to keep its current design but add A19 and N1 chips, more memory, and a new Siri Remote.

Still unknown: pricing, availability outside the US, and whether the smart display would also act as a home hub and Thread Border Router.

Apple Reportedly Teams Up With LG on Apple Home Accessories

According to Bloomberg, Apple is co-developing new Apple Home devices with LG: a video doorbell, a lock, a thermostat, a temperature sensor, and indoor and outdoor cameras. LG will reportedly sell them under its own brand. FCC filings show Thread support and Matter setup codes. The lock reportedly uses Ultra Wideband to unlock automatically.

The leaker pdfu also found entries in the iOS 27.2 code for a Schneider Electric thermostat and sensor. None of the companies involved has confirmed the plans, and the LG devices are reportedly still months away.

Worth Watching: What Apple Announced for October 13

In about six minutes, MacRumors recaps Apple's announcement and walks through the devices rumored for October 13.

In Brief

Hue Lights Can Now Use Zigbee and Matter at Once

Signify is rolling out firmware 1.164.2 to all Hue lights with a built-in Thread chip, meaning the 2026 models plus the E27 bulbs and GU10 spotlights from fall 2025. According to the release notes, they can now use Zigbee and Matter at the same time without a Bridge and support Adaptive Lighting over Matter. Hueblog thinks this is the dual Zigbee and Thread mode Hue announced over the summer.

Shelly 1L Gen4 and 2L Gen4 Need No Neutral Wire

The Shelly 1L Gen4 and 2L Gen4 in-wall switches control your existing lights without a neutral wire, and a bypass for low-power LEDs is included. You can add them to Apple Home using Matter over Wi-Fi. A Thread update is planned. The single-channel 1L costs €33.90 (around $40), the two-channel 2L €38.90 (around $46).

Betas Hint at Surround Sound With Four HomePods

In the third beta of HomePod Software 27.2, pdfu found more signs of surround sound support: an Apple TV 4K could use four HomePods as front and rear speakers. New symbols in macOS 27.2 already show four speakers in a room. It's still unclear whether the feature might arrive on October 13 and which models could support it.

Tip of the Week: Adaptive Lighting for Hue Lights Over Matter

Hue lights with a Thread chip now support Adaptive Lighting directly over Matter as well. It shifts the color temperature automatically throughout the day: warm in the morning, cooler at midday, and warm again in the evening. In the Home app, tap the light's tile and turn on Adaptive Lighting. You'll need a home hub such as an Apple TV 4K or HomePod.