Apple launches HomeView smart display to strong early reviews

Summarised from 4 outlets · 13 reports · Updated 14 Nov, 10:09 · Archive

Apple has released HomeView, its first smart display, priced at $299, combining design, sound quality and Siri AI capabilities.

Apple has released HomeView, its first smart display, at a price of $299. The device comes in tabletop and wall-mounted versions. Multiple reviewers praise its industrial design, excellent sound quality from the tabletop model, and integration with the Apple ecosystem.

The HomeView combines several functions: a smart home controller with built-in Thread router and Matter support, a digital photo frame, a kitchen companion for timers and recipes, and a FaceTime-capable display. It uses face recognition to switch between household members, displaying personalised content and controls for up to six people. The device requires an iPhone or iPad to set up and for access to personal data such as messages, calendar entries and reminders.

Apple's Siri AI is a central feature, described by reviewers as an improvement over previous versions. However, multiple outlets note that Siri can be slow to respond to some requests. The HomeView requires a Wi-Fi connection and, ideally, an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone or iPad to take full advantage of Siri AI and 'personal context' features that access information from your messages and other apps.

Reviewers highlight both strengths and limitations. TechRadar and Engadget note that third-party app support is limited compared to competitors' smart displays from Amazon and Google. The Verge reports that switching between communal and personal modes can create friction, with authentication checks interrupting the hands-free experience. It also raises privacy concerns: users can easily see each other's text messages.

The device has received mixed responses within households. The Verge reports that while one reviewer's tech-averse husband immediately wanted one for his office, the reviewer's teenage daughter preferred to use her iPhone. Reviewers note that the HomeView's usefulness depends heavily on how much users engage with Apple's core applications like Messages, Calendar, Photos and Reminders, and whether they have smart home devices to control.

How it is being reported

• Don’t buy the Apple HomeView expecting a tablet — it’s a completely different beastThe HomeView is a superb smart home controller, but if you're expecting full tablet functionality and an App Store, you'll be disappointed.TechRadar · 14 Nov, 10:00
• HomeView Tidbits: Mirror, Sleep Timer, and Other DetailsApple's HomeView is out today, and we're finally learning all the little details about the new hub. We've rounded up a list of tidbits for those setting up a HomeView or thinking about getting one. Sunglasses Apple says the HomeView probably won't recognize you if you have your face covered, including when wearing sunglasses. If HomeView isn't identifying you, Apple suggests removing anything that would block the camera from seeing your face. The HomeView's screen needs to be angled toward your face, you need to be centered in the frame and closest to the camera if other people are around…MacRumors · 13 Nov, 22:04
• The MacRumors Show: HomeView and Apple TV 4K First ImpressionsOn this week's episode of The MacRumors Show , we share first impressions of Apple's new HomeView and Apple TV 4K, including their hardware, everyday usefulness, and experiences with Siri AI. Subscribe to The MacRumors Show YouTube channel for more videos Following a week with the HomeView , Apple's new smart home device makes a strong impression with its build quality and sound, but leaves questions about how much it adds to a household already filled with Apple products. Its overlap with existing devices has already prompted some skepticism. The 7-inch display may feel smaller in person…MacRumors · 13 Nov, 17:00
• Apple Shares HomeView 27.2 Release Notes With List of FeaturesApple's new HomeView smart home display launched today and the release notes for HomeView software version 27.2 are now available in a support document . Since these are the first HomeView release notes that Apple has publicly shared, they go over a lot of the device's basic features and functionality: HomeView software delivers powerful, personalized experiences to enjoy entertainment, stay connected, and manage your smart home. It features a conversational Siri AI that helps you find what you need and get things done. And with multiuser recognition, customizable faces, and deep Apple…MacRumors · 13 Nov, 16:21
• HomeView in Québec: Apple Says Canadian French Support to Arrive in Software UpdateApple's new HomeView smart home display is available starting today. If you use Canadian French, which is most widely spoken in Québec, Apple today reiterated that the HomeView will be gaining support for the regional language in a future software update, but it did not provide a timeframe for the update's release. Related Roundup: Apple HomeView Buyer's Guide: HomeView (Buy Now) Related Forum: HomePod, HomeView, CarPlay – Home & Auto Tech This article, " HomeView in Québec: Apple Says Canadian French Support to Arrive in Software Update " first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article…MacRumors · 13 Nov, 15:26
• Apple Says HomeView Sets New Record in Design-Focused InterviewTechRadar 's Jacob Krol interviewed Apple's Vice President of Hardware Engineering Matthew Costello about Apple's all-new HomeView smart home display, which is available starting today. The discussion was largely focused on the HomeView's design, with Costello touching on the device achieving a display-related record for Apple products. Specifically, the HomeView's display brightness can automatically go down to just 0.3 nits , which is a record low for any Apple product. This ultra-low brightness makes the HomeView especially ideal for a bedside table at night. "I really love the fact that…MacRumors · 13 Nov, 15:03
• Apple Launches Two Products TodayApple is releasing two new products today, Friday, November 13: the all-new Apple HomeView and the fourth-generation Apple TV 4K, both of which have been available to pre-order since mid-October. Apple HomeView : Apple's new smart home display, powered by Apple Intelligence with Siri AI, for entertainment and managing the home. Available in tabletop and wall-mounted models, it can recognize up to six users by face, each with a personalized Home Screen. The HomeView is priced at $299. Apple TV 4K : adds Siri AI, the A19 chip, an updated Siri Remote with Find My, and support for four-speaker…MacRumors · 13 Nov, 10:37
• HomeView Launch Kicks Off as First Orders Reach CustomersApple announced an all-new home product a month ago, and it's now starting to arrive to customers. It's Friday, November 13, in Australia and New Zealand, which means it's the HomeView launch day. Customers who pre-ordered Apple's new home hub will soon be sharing pictures and first impressions on the MacRumors forums, Reddit, Instagram, and other social media networks. If you got a HomeView, let us know what you think in the comments below. Apple sees HomeView as the center of the home, and functionally, it's a cross between a small iPad and a HomePod . It has a 7-inch square display and…MacRumors · 12 Nov, 22:50
• I reviewed the Apple HomeView, ask me anythingHi! I'm Jen Tuohy, The Verge's senior smart home reviewer. I've tested every smart display Amazon and Google have ever made, and for the past week I've been testing Apple's first: The $299 HomeView. I put the tabletop and wall-mounted versions through their paces, on my kitchen counter, bedside table, in my office, and on […]The Verge · 12 Nov, 14:10
• Review: Is Apple's All-New HomeView Smart Home Hub Worth $299?On our YouTube channel today, Dan Barbera has shared a review of Apple's all-new HomeView smart home hub ahead of the device launching on Friday. Subscribe to MacRumors on YouTube Barbera spent the past week testing the HomeView and has shared his impressions, so be sure to watch our video above to hear what he thinks. As a refresher, the HomeView features an aluminum design, with the display connected to a domed speaker base by a stainless steel tilting hinge. Apple says it is ideal for a kitchen counter, nightstand, or side table. The device has a 7-inch square display, and it is ideal for…MacRumors · 12 Nov, 14:00
• After 8 days with Apple’s first smart display, I’m convinced HomeView was worth the waitThe HomeView impresses with its thoughtful design, surprisingly powerful sound, personalized experiences, and Siri AI.TechRadar · 12 Nov, 14:00
• Apple’s HomeView is my new favorite smart display — but not my daughter’sThe HomeView nails everything I want from a smart display. It's superb at controlling my smart home; it's an excellent hands-free kitchen companion, a good speaker, and a gorgeous digital photo frame. It's also the first Apple smart speaker with Siri AI, which is an improvement, if still slow at times. But Apple has fallen […]The Verge · 12 Nov, 14:00
• Apple HomeView review: A versatile smart display and Siri-powered home hubWith its first smart display, Apple provides a lot of convenience for a variety of tasks in your home.Engadget · 12 Nov, 14:00

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