Apple’s upcoming home hub will let users build and customize its home screen using the same Widget Gallery interface already available on iPhone, iPad, and Mac, according to code discovered in macOS Tahoe 26.7
The widget system represents Apple’s strategy to extend its proven system design patterns into the smart home category. Apple is applying PosterKit, the framework that powers Lock Screen and home screen customization on iPhones and Apple Watches, to the home hub’s 7-inch square display. Rather than build a separate customization interface, the company is reusing what already works.
As discovered by MacRumors, widgets installed on a linked iPhone will automatically be suggested for the home hub, eliminating the need to manually configure them twice. This mirrors how iPhone widgets are already available on a Mac without requiring the underlying app to be installed on the Mac itself. Third-party app widgets may be supported alongside Apple’s confirmed apps: Safari, Apple News, Apple Music, Notes, Calendar, Photos, and Home.
The hub will not have its own App Store. Instead, it will function as a secondary display for content from apps already installed on the owner’s primary device.
A Smart Stack feature will automatically rotate through widgets to surface relevant information throughout the day. Users can also manually flip through Smart Stack options, a feature already proven on Apple Watch and iOS devices.
For households with multiple users, all residents can see which widgets are installed on the home hub, but widget content will only display when the primary linked device is physically in the home. This privacy-first design prevents sensitive information from appearing when the device owner is away, distinguishing Apple’s approach from always-on displays in Amazon Echo and Google Home devices.
The home hub is expected to support customizable clock faces through a Face Gallery, giving users control over the display’s appearance much like they have on iPhone and Apple Watch. The device can also be integrated into HomeKit scenes and automations alongside other smart home accessories.
Apple is preparing two versions of the Home Hub. J490 model is expected to ship with a tabletop base, while the J491 is designed for wall mounting. Both is expected to use the same 7-inch display and software experience.
The presence of Widget Gallery code in the macOS Tahoe 26.7 release candidate, seeded on August 17, suggests the home hub project is well-advanced. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has reported the device could launch as early as October 2026 or into early 2027. The home hub is expected to run on a tvOS-based operating system codenamed Pebble and is expected to include built-in facial recognition to display personalized information based on who is viewing the screen.
