Apple has opened preorders for HomeView, a $299 smart display intended to sit at the center of a connected household. The 7-inch device combines touch controls for lights, locks and cameras with FaceTime, speakers, personalized household screens and Siri AI. It goes on sale Nov. 13 in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, India and New Zealand.
The launch gives Apple a direct answer to screen-equipped home hubs from Amazon and Google, a category where Apple has largely relied on iPads, HomePods and third-party accessories. Apple says HomeView can recognize up to six people, while its most sensitive personalized functions require an eligible, nearby and recently unlocked iPhone or iPad.
A shared screen with individual profiles
According to Apple’s HomeView announcement, the device has a 7-inch Liquid Retina display and an A18 chip. It is available as a tabletop model or a wall-mounted model, both listed at $299 in the United States. The wall version requires a separate Schneider Home mount. Apple lists USB-C and AC-wired mounts at $59.95 and $79.95, respectively, while a Power over Ethernet mount priced at $129.95 is not expected until early 2027.
Apple says HomeView can recognize up to six people and show personalized calendars, reminders, photo collections and home controls. CNBC’s launch coverage also describes the device as a showcase for the company’s Siri AI effort and household-profile system.
Recognition does not by itself open a person’s private material. Apple says personal content requires that user’s paired iPhone or iPad to be nearby and recently unlocked. Personal-context Siri requests also require a paired Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone or iPad. Apple describes HomeView as a shared device for household tasks while keeping personal content tied to a user’s paired device.
Apple also says camera and microphone information is processed in protected hardware runtimes unavailable to HomeView software, apps, users or Apple itself. The company presents those protections as part of its privacy approach.
Home controls and accessory setup
HomeView is a touch-and-voice controller for compatible Apple Home and Matter accessories. Apple says users can view as many as nine live camera feeds at once and control connected devices through the screen or Siri.
Apple is also using HomeView to promote its Apple Home Collection, a group of accessories developed with LG Electronics and Schneider Electric. CNET’s launch coverage cites Ben Wood, chief analyst at CCS Insight, saying Apple has made setup for the new home products simpler than alternatives that require separate apps and QR-code scanning.
Video support remains unclear
Apple’s announcement says HomeView works with Apple TV and compatible third-party audio and video apps. The release does not provide a service-by-service list or clearly state which video apps run directly on HomeView and which require an iPhone, iPad or another Apple device.
WIRED’s hands-on report says HomeView has no App Store and that YouTube, Netflix and Disney+ were not available as native apps at the time of its briefing. AppleInsider reported that video playback may depend on AirPlay from an iPhone or iPad or on CarPlay-related functionality. The available reporting does not resolve which services Apple considers compatible video apps.
Rollout leaves out the European Union
Preorders began Oct. 13 in the first group of markets. Apple says Singapore preorders begin Oct. 15. South Africa is scheduled to receive HomeView on Nov. 13 through authorized resellers. Apple says HomeView will not be sold in the European Union at launch because Siri AI is unavailable in iOS there.
Siri AI is labeled beta in HomeView software version 27.2, and Apple says its personal-context capabilities require a paired Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone or iPad. HomeView becomes available Nov. 13 in Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States.