Apple has introduced HomeView, a new smart home hub featuring a 7-inch display designed to bring artificial intelligence, entertainment and home automation together in a single device. Starting at $299, the product is scheduled to ship on November 13 and represents a broader push by the company to expand its presence in connected home technology.
Announced on Tuesday, October 13, HomeView can be mounted on a wall or placed on a table. The device uses facial recognition to identify household members and personalise the information displayed on its screen, supporting up to six users.
The launch also includes updated Apple TV 4K and HomePod Mini products, with the new hardware positioned as a showcase for Apple’s latest Siri AI capabilities.
HomeView Brings Siri AI Into the Connected Home
HomeView is designed to make Apple’s voice assistant more accessible throughout the home. Apple says users can ask Siri a wider range of questions and carry conversations over to an iPhone or iPad, allowing interactions to continue across devices.
Powered by the Apple A18 chip and Apple Intelligence, the hub can display personalised information from Messages, Photos, Calendar and Reminders. It also supports FaceTime calls, music playback and digital photo-frame functionality.
Greg Joswiak, Apple’s chief marketing officer, said the device can recognise individual users, provide an audio experience, connect families through FaceTime and simplify control of connected household devices.
As a smart home dashboard, HomeView allows users to view security camera feeds, adjust thermostats and lock compatible doors. Apple also says setting up a new smart home device can be completed with a single tap from an iPhone.
The hub will work with a range of connected products, including new locks, doorbells and cameras from LG Electronics and Schneider Electric.
Apple Updates Apple TV 4K and HomePod Mini
Alongside HomeView, Apple announced a new Apple TV 4K priced at $299. The device features a redesigned remote control that can play a sound to help users locate it when misplaced.
The new model represents a substantial price increase from the previous $199 starting price, following an earlier rise in the company’s hardware costs.
Apple also refreshed its HomePod Mini speaker with new colour options. The device will retail for $149, up from its previous $129 price.
Although these products are less significant to Apple’s business than the iPhone, the company is positioning its home hardware as an important part of its wider AI strategy.
A Bigger Role for Apple’s Home Ecosystem
The launch comes under new chief executive John Ternus, who took over from Tim Cook in September. It is the second product launch event under his leadership, following September’s announcement of new iPhone models, including the foldable iPhone Duo.
Apple’s Wearables, Home and Accessories division generated $7.88 billion in revenue in the quarter ended in June, representing approximately 7% of the company’s total revenue. The segment also includes products such as AirPods and Apple Watch.
Expanding its smart home offering could help Apple strengthen
