On Tuesday, Apple introduced a new smart home display priced at $299, called HomeView. This device employs facial recognition and AI to recognize family members, marking a significant move in Apple’s competition with Amazon and Google over the connected home market.
HomeView is part of a new product range that also includes an updated Apple TV 4K streaming device, a redesigned HomePod mini speaker, as well as various security solutions like cameras, door locks, and thermostats.
Set for release on November 13, HomeView features a 7-inch touchscreen along with a built-in camera that can identify up to six family members by displaying their calendars, messages, and other tailored information.
Avi Greengart, the president and lead analyst at Techsponential, expressed admiration for the device’s design and how well it integrates with Apple’s existing product ecosystem. He described it as “gorgeous,” noting that it’s smaller in person than it appears in photos.
The gadget uses Apple’s enhanced Siri AI assistant to manage queries, handle daily tasks, and control connected devices in the home.
Apple is providing options for both tabletop and wall-mounted setups of this device, claiming built-in privacy safeguards that prevent family members from viewing each other’s private data. Users will need a compatible iPhone or iPad, which has to be recently unlocked, for sensitive information to be displayed.
However, Greengart raised concerns that the device’s reliance on Apple’s ecosystem might limit its overall appeal. He pointed out that those already invested in competing systems, like Ring cameras or Android phones, might not find it suitable.
In addition to monitoring security feeds, the display allows homeowners to adjust home settings like lighting and thermostats and even supports FaceTime calls.
HomeView also boasts a feature tailored for cooking, which helps by breaking down recipe instructions and allowing users to set timers directly.
Further enhancing its capabilities, the display will interface with external media services like Spotify, built on Apple’s CarPlay technology.
Alongside HomeView, Apple revealed the $149 HomePod mini 2, set to launch on October 30. This speaker features the new S10 chip and a unique lighting effect known as Sound Glow, which changes colors according to the music being played.
Additionally, there’s the new $299 4K Apple TV, also debuting on November 13, which includes microphones for hands-free use of Siri commands and a remote that emits a sound when misplaced. The last version of this product started at $199.
As for the HomePod mini 2, it will arrive with an upgraded processor and cost $149, while the previous model was priced at $129.
Both HomeView and the HomePod mini 2 are open for preorders right away, with deliveries expected next month.
Moreover, Apple is collaborating with LG Electronics and Schneider Electric to launch various connected-home accessories by December. These will include an indoor camera priced at $199.95, a video doorbell at $249.95, an outdoor camera for $299.95, and a smart door lock costing $349.95, among others.
All these accessories will be configurable through an iPhone, avoiding the hassle of separate accounts or additional applications.
Interestingly, HomeView comes with a higher price tag compared to similar products from competitors, such as Amazon’s Echo Show 8 priced at $179.99 and Google’s Nest Hub at $99.99. Despite this, Greengart believes that Apple’s target market—consumers already immersed in its ecosystem—may still opt for the higher price point. He described it as not an impulse buy, but reasonable for the intended audience.
Finally, Greengart suggested that Apple’s launch could impact the pricing strategies of its competitors, potentially allowing them to increase their prices as well. He pointed out Amazon’s shift towards a profitable hardware sales model rather than relying solely on discounts to attract customers.
Preorders for HomeView began on Tuesday, with initial deliveries expected next month.
