OpenAI’s much-discussed “iPhone killer” device may be less of a single product and more of a broader hardware strategy. According to a recent report, the company is developing three separate consumer devices in partnership with former Apple design chief Jony Ive. While CEO Sam Altman has previously suggested that the project could move beyond the smartphone paradigm, early details point to a lineup of AI-powered home and wearable products rather than a direct phone replacement.
The most developed of the three devices is reportedly a smart speaker equipped with a camera and microphone. Pricing is expected to fall between $200 and $300, with a release window no earlier than next year. Descriptions indicate that the speaker will be portable but also capable of functioning as a smart home hub. Core features would include proactive suggestions, contextual awareness, and conversational responses powered by OpenAI’s AI systems.
If accurate, that positioning places the device squarely in competition with established smart speakers from companies like Amazon and Google. The difference would presumably lie in deeper AI integration. However, the broader question remains whether incremental improvements in voice interaction and contextual intelligence are enough to shift consumer behavior away from smartphones. Most users already rely on their phones for quick queries, navigation, media, and communication. A stationary or semi-portable speaker would need to offer a significantly different experience to displace that habit.
In addition to the speaker, OpenAI is reportedly developing a smart lamp. Details are limited, but it is expected to function as another AI-enabled home device. The concept suggests an ambient computing approach, where AI blends into everyday objects rather than existing solely on screens. The challenge with this strategy is clarity of purpose. Smart home devices have historically struggled when their functionality overlaps too heavily with smartphones or existing assistants.
The third product in development is a pair of smart glasses. This category has drawn sustained interest from major technology companies, each exploring whether augmented reality or AI-enhanced eyewear could eventually supplement—or replace—traditional smartphones. Smart glasses would address one limitation of the speaker and lamp concepts: the absence of a display. By integrating visual overlays or notifications directly into a wearable format, OpenAI could deliver AI assistance in a more immediate, hands-free way.
However, none of the reported devices are expected to launch before 2028, suggesting that OpenAI’s hardware ambitions remain in early stages. That timeline also means the competitive landscape could shift considerably before any product reaches market. Apple, Meta, Google, and Samsung are already investing in spatial computing and AI-driven wearables, and the maturity of those ecosystems may influence how receptive consumers are to a new entrant.
Altman has framed the collaboration with Ive as an effort to rethink personal computing beyond the smartphone era. Historically, replacing a dominant device category requires a clear advantage in convenience, capability, or cost. So far, the leaked pricing and feature descriptions suggest iterative AI-driven hardware rather than a fundamentally new computing model.
There is also the broader question of trust and reliability. While AI assistants have improved rapidly, they still produce errors and inconsistencies. For a device positioned as a primary interface to digital life, reliability will be critical. Consumers may be reluctant to shift from a multi-functional smartphone to devices that specialize in voice or ambient interaction unless the benefits are clear and consistent.
If OpenAI’s hardware plans materialize as described, the company would be entering a crowded field with ambitious messaging. Whether these AI-powered products can move beyond novelty and establish themselves as essential tools will depend less on branding and more on how convincingly they solve everyday problems that smartphones already address.
