Apple is reportedly developing a smart display that would act as a smart home hub, and details of the upcoming product’s widget gallery appear in code buried in the latest macOS beta.
The discovery paints a clearer picture of how Apple’s first true smart display might work. It also gives us an idea of how the widget gallery might pull content straight from your iPhone, mixing Apple’s own apps with third-party widgets.
Apple smart display widget gallery, explained
Apple’s smart display has reportedly been in development for years, with the aim of providing users with a dedicated touchscreen for controlling smart-home accessories and accessing Apple services. The new device has been waiting on the arrival of Siri AI, which is coming in this year’s software updates and is expected to be a core part of the experience. The same apparently goes for widgets.
iPhone, iPad and Mac already include widgets managed through a widget gallery. This is the menu used to drop widgets on the device’s Home Screen or Lock Screen. The smart display seems to use a similar system. It’s just built for a shared screen that’s meant to sit in a kitchen or hallway.
Hidden code uncovered in a recent macOS 26 beta by MacRumors reveals details about the widget gallery coming to Apple’s rumored smart display. The strings live in a file called PosterKit-J490. (J490 is reportedly the new device’s internal code name.)
PosterKit already powers Lock Screen customization on iPhone and iPad. This link suggests the smart display’s main screen could borrow the same building blocks: icons, widgets and clock faces.
iPhone widgets could mirror to the display
Widgets already installed on a linked iPhone may be suggested on the smart display as well. That’s fairly similar to how iPhone widgets show up on a Mac without needing a separate app.
Code references also hint that third-party widgets could work alongside Apple’s own apps, and any iPhone widget shown on the smart display would mirror live information from the phone itself.
Apple also appears to be focusing on privacy here. Everyone in the household could see which widgets are installed on the shared smart display. However, the actual content of these widgets would reportedly stay hidden when the linked iPhone’s owner leaves the home.
A Smart Stack for the whole house
The smart display apparently will include a Smart Stack, a feature that already exists on iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch. This automatically rotates widgets to display relevant information. Users can also swipe through different Smart Stack pages manually.
No App Store, but familiar apps
In a surprise move, apparently there won’t be an App Store for the smart screen. Instead, users will see support for a curated set of Apple apps. That list could include Safari, Apple News, Apple Music, Notes, Calendar, Photos and Home.
The code also refers to a Face Gallery, which means you might see multiple clock face options for the home screen. The home hub may be able to join HomeKit scenes and automations, working alongside other smart home accessories.
Apple smart display release timing and design
The smart display reportedly will feature a 7-inch square display, with Apple offering a tabletop and wall-mounted versions. That would give buyers some flexibility in setup.
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman previously reported that the smart display/home hub could arrive in the coming months, sometime between October and early next year. The device also showed up this week in a massive leak of Apple hardware launching soon.
Anurag Chawake is a tech-focused writer specializing in smartphones, apps and consumer technology. His interest in computers began during the Windows 98 era, eventually leading him to explore everything from operating systems to mobile devices and PC hardware. Anurag previously contributed to The Indian Express, covering Apple, Android, gaming and the broader technology landscape.
