Apple HomeView is here: $299 smart display with Siri AI, a 7-inch screen and a Nov 13 release. See features, colors, and who should buy it.
Introduction
For years, people have wondered when Apple would build a proper screen for the smart home. Rumors called it the HomePad, then the leaks settled on a different name, and on October 13, 2026, Apple made it official at its Welcome Home event. The Apple HomeView is a countertop and wall-mounted smart display that wants to become the control center of your house.
If you already own an iPhone, the pitch is easy to understand. HomeView is meant to pull your lights, locks, cameras, thermostats, calls and music into one glanceable screen that anyone in the family can use. Here is what it is, how it works, what it costs, and whether it deserves a spot in your home.
What Is Apple HomeView?
Apple HomeView is a smart home hub with a built-in touchscreen. Think of it as a HomePod that finally grew a face. It plays music, makes FaceTime calls, browses the web and, most importantly, acts as a command center for the Home app and the accessories connected to it.
Inside, it runs on Apple’s A18 chip and a software platform called homeOS. That chip is the same family of silicon found in recent iPhones, so you should expect quick responses when you ask Siri to do something. Apple is positioning voice as the main way to interact with the device, with touch as a handy backup rather than the star of the show.
That focus explains why Apple avoided the iPad comparison. HomeView is not a tablet you leave on the kitchen counter. It is a home appliance that happens to have a very good screen.
Apple HomeView Design and Display
The first thing you notice is the shape. HomeView uses a 7-inch square Liquid Retina touch display, and the tabletop version floats that screen above a speaker base. Several reviewers have compared the look to the old iMac G4, and it is hard to disagree. It is friendly, a little retro and clearly meant to sit out in the open rather than hide behind a plant.
A square screen makes sense for a home hub. It shows a clock, a photo, a camera feed or a set of controls without wasting space, and it reads well from across the room.
Tabletop vs. Wall-Mounted Models
Apple sells two versions, and both cost the same. The tabletop model includes the speaker base and sits on a counter, desk or shelf. The wall-mounted model skips the stand and attaches to the wall using purpose-built mounts from Schneider, with options for self-installation or professional installation.
There is one catch worth knowing about. The wall-mounted version needs a separate mount, with options that include USB-C and wired power, and a Power over Ethernet option is expected in early 2027. Once you add the mount, the wall version will cost more in practice than the sticker price suggests. For most households, the tabletop model delivers more for the money.
Colors and Finishes
The tabletop HomeView comes in silver, starlight, rose pink and space gray. The wall-mounted model is limited to space gray and silver. If color matters to you, the tabletop version clearly offers the wider choice.
How Apple HomeView Works
HomeView connects to your home network and talks to your iPhone, your other Apple devices and your smart accessories. You set it up through your iPhone, and it then becomes a shared hub that the whole household can use.
Unlike an iPad, it is not built around an App Store. Apple is expected to run a small, curated set of its own apps, and Apple is betting that your accessories and your iPhone will do the heavy lifting. The idea is simple: you speak, glance at the screen, and move on with your day.
Siri AI and Face Recognition
Siri sits at the center of the experience, and this is where HomeView tries to separate itself from older smart speakers. The device uses facial recognition to figure out who is standing in front of it, then adjusts the screen to show something personal to that person. Your calendar and your partner’s calendar do not have to share the same space.
If you have several HomeView units around the house, the same idea can extend to intercom-style use. You could call someone upstairs from the kitchen without shouting, which is exactly the kind of small convenience that smart displays are good at.
Apple HomeView Features You Will Actually Use
Spec sheets are fun, but daily habits matter more. These are the features most households are likely to lean on:
- Controlling lights, locks, thermostats and cameras through Siri or the touchscreen
- Making FaceTime calls hands-free from the kitchen or living room
- Playing music and podcasts through the built-in speaker base
- Checking a camera feed when someone rings the doorbell
- Browsing the web for quick lookups, like a recipe or a train time
The common thread is speed. You do not unlock a phone, find an app and tap through menus. You ask, glance and carry on. That is the whole value proposition, and it is a strong one for busy kitchens and entryways.
The Apple Home Collection Accessories
HomeView does not arrive alone. Apple also introduced the Apple Home Collection, a lineup of accessories designed to work smoothly with it. The group includes indoor and outdoor cameras, a video doorbell, a smart door lock, thermostats and temperature sensors. Apple worked with LG on much of this hardware, and Schneider Electric is involved on the thermostat side.
Both the LG and Schneider thermostats are priced at $200, and they can adjust the temperature automatically depending on whether someone is home, getting ready for bed or away. The thermostats and sensors are Matter compatible and work with several HVAC systems. Some of these accessories arrive in December, while others will not show up until early next year.
If you already own Matter or Thread devices, you do not have to replace everything. HomeView is designed to sit on top of the gear you have and make it easier to control.
Apple HomeView Price and Release Date
The Apple HomeView costs $299 for both the tabletop and wall-mounted models. Pre-orders opened on October 13, and the first units are set to ship on November 13.
Apple also announced a refreshed Apple TV 4K with an A19 chip and Siri AI at $299, plus the HomePod mini 2 with an S10 chip at $149. If you are building a home from scratch, the three products together form a pretty complete starting kit.
The price is lower than many people expected. Apple products rarely undercut the competition, so $299 feels like a deliberate attempt to get a HomeView into as many homes as possible.
Apple HomeView vs. Echo Show and Nest Hub
Amazon and Google have owned this category for years, so a fair comparison matters. The Echo Show and Nest Hub are often cheaper, and they support enormous libraries of third-party skills and integrations. If you live in a mixed ecosystem or already use Alexa or Google Assistant heavily, switching has real costs.
HomeView counters with tighter iPhone integration, a privacy-focused reputation, facial recognition for personalized screens and a premium build. It also benefits from Apple’s own accessory lineup. What it gives up is flexibility, since there is no App Store and the app selection is limited.
The honest summary: HomeView is the better fit if your household already runs on iPhones, and the weaker choice if you want to install anything and everything.
Who Should Buy Apple HomeView?
HomeView makes the most sense for iPhone households with at least a few smart accessories. If you already have smart lights, a Matter thermostat or a video doorbell, a central display will make them far easier to use. Families who share a kitchen will probably appreciate the personalized screens and the easy FaceTime calls.
You might want to wait if you rely on Android phones, if you depend on lots of third-party apps, or if you plan to mount the display on a wall and want to see how the mounting options and Power over Ethernet support turn out in early 2027. Early adopters will have fun, but the Apple Home Collection is still rolling out, and the full experience will improve as more accessories arrive.
Conclusion
Apple HomeView is the company’s most serious attempt yet at the smart home. A 7-inch square touchscreen, the A18 chip, Siri AI, face recognition and a $299 price make it a credible rival to the Echo Show and Nest Hub, especially for people who already live inside Apple’s ecosystem. The lack of an App Store and the extra cost of wall mounting are fair trade-offs to weigh, but the overall package is appealing. With pre-orders open and shipping set for November 13, the next few weeks will show whether Apple finally gets the smart home right.
Frequently Asked Questions
Apple HomeView costs $299 for both the tabletop and wall-mounted versions. Keep in mind that the wall model needs a separate mount, so your total cost will be higher if you choose it.
Pre-orders began on October 13, 2026, and Apple says shipments start on November 13. Some Apple Home Collection accessories arrive in December, and others follow in early 2027.
No. HomeView runs a limited selection of Apple apps instead of a full App Store. Apple’s approach relies on Siri, the Home app and your connected accessories rather than downloadable software.
The tabletop model comes in silver, starlight, rose pink and space gray. The wall-mounted version is offered in space gray and silver only.
Apple designed HomeView around the iPhone and the Home app, and setup runs through your iPhone. If you do not own an Apple phone, a different smart display will probably suit you better.