Apple is apparently close to launching a wall-mounted display that can tackle home appliances, take care of video conferencing needs and use artificial intelligence to navigate apps, reports Bloomberg.

Code-named J490, the product could be announced as early as March while the highlighting feature will be the new Apple Intelligence platform, or a suite of AI-driven features from the company.

Going by rumours, the device will have a six-inch touchscreen but like a HomePod, it will use voice to control it, either through Siri, Apple Intelligence or an upcoming system called App Intents that lets AI control applications. It may even run on a new OS with sensors to detect how close a person is. There will be support for traditional Apple apps, like Safari, Apple Music, Notes, and Calendar.

In a way, J490 will be an iPad and speakers that mimic the HomePod. If the rumours are true, the smart display will offer a centralised way to control HomeKit-compatible lights, security cameras, sensors, thermostats, and more. It can be a product that will become central to households. While Bloomberg says the product could be ready by March, supply-chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has reported that the company also plans to build out its smart home ecosystem with more products and Apple may start producing a smart home camera in 2026.

Apple is said to have come up with several bases for the smart display, so it can hang on the wall or sit on a countertop using a stand with extra speakers. Apple’s display may support the company’s Handoff feature that lets users continue tasks across different devices. The Bloomberg report says the product will be available in silver and black, and it says the company is also working on a more expensive version with a robotic arm that can tilt and spin its screen.

Apple’s “command centre for the home” will most probably be a rival to Amazon’s Echo Hub and Google’s Nest Hub, so expect it to be priced similarly. However, the “iPad on a robotic arm” could be priced higher.