Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Note 10 , Note 10 Plus and Galaxy Book S to a captivated audience at this week’s Samsung Unpacked event in Brooklyn, New York.

But as onlookers marvelled at the high-spec phablet and 13.3in ultraportable laptop, we couldn’t help but pick up on one big omission: the Samsung Galaxy Home.

Samsung initially announced the Bixby-driven smart speaker at its Unpacked event in August 2018, hailing its “powerful” sound and smart features. Back then, it looked like the company was gearing up to take on Apple’s HomePod.

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But when it came for the big reveal, we were left slightly baffled by the Galaxy Home. Its tripod legs and barrel design made it look “a bit like a misshapen witch’s cauldron”, quipped Reviews Editor Jonathan Bray – if witches’ cauldrons came equipped with touch-sensitive control panels.

Despite Samsung initially revealing the product last year, the company has withheld its commercial roll-out, citing a range of setbacks for the delay. That’s not to say they’re trying to bury the product – far from it. Speaking to Engadget , a Samsung spokesperson confirmed that "We're continuing to refine and enhance the Galaxy Home prior to launch, and look forward to sharing more with Galaxy fans soon.”

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The company aims to release its long-awaited smart speaker in the “mid-second half of the year,” hinting at the end of this quarter or the beginning of 2019’s last.

Can’t wait until then to snap up a digital assistant? We’ve pitted the Google Home against the Amazon Echo and the Apple HomePod , so you can see which is the smart speaker for you. Plus, we’ll be updating this page as and when we get more news on the Samsung Galaxy Home, so be sure to check back in.