The big picture: Apple is finally entering the smart home hub market, more than 11 years after Amazon launched the Echo and almost exactly a decade after Google introduced its Nest devices. With a similar price point and feature set, Apple's HomeView aims to integrate Siri AI with the company's latest smartphones, tablets, and smartwatches, as well as upcoming smart home cameras, doorbells, locks, and thermostats.
Pre-orders are now open for the Apple HomeView, Cupertino's answer to the Amazon Echo Show 11 and Google Nest Hub Max. Priced at $299, the smart home hub will launch on November 13 in either a tabletop or wall-mounted configuration.
The HomeView aims to combine features of the iPad and HomePod at a lower price, powered by the same A18 processor found in the iPhone 16. Its 7-inch, 1,088 × 1,088-pixel LED touchscreen displays messages, FaceTime calls, photos, news, music, and apps connected to the smart home ecosystem. AI-powered voice controls enable hands-free operation. Other built-in apps include Alarms, Find My, Podcasts, Reminders, Safari, World Clock, and an intercom feature.
With a unique take on Face ID, the HomeView can recognize up to six users by their appearance and automatically switch to their messages, calendars, and personalized Siri AI settings, keeping individual content private from other users. Certain shared content remains accessible to everyone.
Apple's new generative AI-powered Siri assistant can retrieve information from each user's calendars, messages, and other content while also answering questions using web searches. When users sync a separate Siri AI-compatible device, such as an iPhone or iPad, conversations with the digital assistant carry over between devices. Music playback does, too, and audio can be routed through spatial audio speakers built into the circular base and along the bottom of the screen.
The HomeView also connects to a range of smart home cameras, smart deadbolt locks, and thermostats from LG and Schneider under the Apple Home Collection brand. The devices will be available in December. Users can adjust the temperature, remotely control locks, and view feeds from multiple cameras through the HomeView or other Apple devices connected to the company's Home app ecosystem.
LG's upcoming Smart Deadbolt Lock can be unlocked using a PIN, remotely by the owner, with a tap from an iPhone or Apple Watch, or by detecting nearby Apple devices containing digital keys. Meanwhile, cameras from LG and Schneider can store up to 10 days of 2.5K video footage in iCloud with an iCloud+ subscription, even when the Wi-Fi connection is down. Apple Intelligence can also recognize and describe familiar people, pets, vehicles, and packages.