Apple HomeView: Smart home display with new Siri, but not for Germany

Apple is entering the smart display market. The Home View combines a 7-inch screen with a speaker and aims to bring together music, FaceTime, and smart home control in one place. At its core is Siri AI, the completely redesigned version of the voice assistant. This is also precisely why the Home View will not be sold in the EU for the time being.

Display on speaker stand

The device consists of a 7-inch Liquid Retina display connected via a stainless steel hinge to a dome-shaped speaker base. The screen can be tilted. Brightness automatically adjusts between 500 and 0,3 nits, ensuring the HomeView won't disturb you, even on a nightstand. Standing further away, the display shows less information in a larger format; moving closer increases the level of detail. The base houses a downward-firing woofer and two passive radiators, while the display contains two full-range drivers. In addition to the desktop version, available in four colors, there's a wall-mountable model in silver and space gray, which uses Schneider Home brackets.

One device, six profiles

Home View can recognize up to six people by their faces and display a separate home screen to each. According to Apple, personal content from messages or calendar entries only appears if the person is recognized and their paired iPhone or iPad is nearby and recently unlocked. The A18 chip processes camera and microphone data in isolated areas to which neither apps nor Apple are supposed to have access.

Siri AI is supposed to be significantly more talkative, answering general knowledge questions and, with a compatible iPhone, also accessing personal data such as appointments or messages. However, the fine print states that the new Siri on the Home View will launch as a beta version. Furthermore, some AI functions running on Apple's servers are subject to daily usage limits, and Apple has announced that extended access will require a paid subscription in the future.

Smart home hub with cameras

In a smart home, the HomeView controls lights, heating, blinds, and door locks via touch or voice. It supports HomeKit and Matter. Up to nine camera images can be displayed simultaneously. With a compatible iCloud+ subscription, the system recognizes people, pets, packages, and vehicles and summarizes video clips in text format. If a smoke or CO detector is triggered, the HomeView sends an alert to the iPhone. Apple also announced the Apple Home Collection, a series of cameras, thermostats, and a lock developed in collaboration with LG and Schneider Electric. It is expected to be released in December.

Price and availability

In the US, both versions cost $299. Pre-orders start today, and the HomeView will be available in stores on November 13. At launch, it will be available in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India, Singapore, and South Africa. The HomeView will not be sold in the EU because Siri AI is not available there on iOS. Apple states that it is working with the EU to find a solution, but has not provided a timeline. Additionally, Siri AI will only speak English at launch.