Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman reports that Apple is still developing a 7-inch Smart Home Hub similar to the HomePod, which is expected to be released in 2025.

Gurman believes the device will be “Apple’s most important product of the year” and “the first step towards a bigger role in the smart home market,” describing it as “like a smaller, cheaper iPad” that can control home appliances, make FaceTime calls and perform other tasks.

There have been several rumors about a HomePod with a display and an Apple Home Hub, which appear to be the same product. Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo previously said that the new HomePod will feature a 6-7-inch display, an A18 chip supporting Apple Intelligence, and that it will begin mass production in the second half of 2025.

Gurman previously reported that the Home Hub could be mounted on a speaker base or wall-mounted, would run the new “homeOS” operating system, would have a customizable home screen with widgets, and would focus on Siri, Apple Intelligence, and HomeKit. It could also act as a home security system, display surveillance footage, and make FaceTime calls using the built-in camera.

Apple’s Home Hub will compete with products like the Google Nest Hub and Amazon Echo Show, but it’s unclear whether Apple will use the HomePod branding or go by a new name, such as Apple Home.

Both Kuo and Gurman say Apple is planning to release an indoor security camera that will work with the Hub.

It’s not yet known whether the larger HomePod will get an update this year, but a new HomePod mini is expected to launch later this year.