Apple Announces HomeView, a $299 Smart Home Hub
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Apple has finally released HomeView, a smart home screen it has been working on for years. It was announced on October 13, 2026.
In simple words: it's a small touchscreen that sits on your kitchen counter (or hangs on your wall) and lets you control your whole smart home, make video calls, play music, and more.
The big question: is it worth $299? Here's everything you need to know, explained simply.
Price and release date
- Price: $299 in the US
- Pre-orders: open now
- Arrives in stores: November 13, 2026
- Europe: not available at launch. Apple's new Siri isn't ready in Europe yet, so HomeView has to wait too.
What you need to set it up: an iPhone with iOS 27.2 or an iPad with iPadOS 27.2. If your phone can't update to that version, you can't set it up.
Two versions to choose from
Both cost the same $299.
1. Countertop version
- The screen sits on a round metal base that also holds the speakers
- You can tilt the screen to get a better view
- Colors: Silver, Starlight, Rose Pink, Space Gray
- The power cable matches the color
2. Wall version
- Just the screen, no speaker base
- Hangs flat on your wall
- Colors: Silver and Space Gray
- The wall mount is sold separately, so budget extra
The screen
- Size: 7 inches, square shape
- Sharpness: 1088 × 1088 pixels, sharp enough for photos and video calls
- Brightness: goes very bright for sunny kitchens, and very dim at night so it won't light up your bedroom
- True Tone: the colors adjust to match the light in your room, so it's easier on the eyes
- Smart layout: from across the room, it shows big, simple information like the time or weather. Walk closer and it shows more detail.
The brain: chip and Siri
- It runs on the A18 chip, the same chip used in the iPhone 16. That means it should feel fast.
- It uses Siri AI, Apple's new, smarter Siri. You can ask it questions, find music, and control your home just by talking.
- If you start a conversation with Siri on HomeView, you can continue it on your iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple Watch.
Have you tried the new Siri yet? Better or still frustrating?
What it does for your smart home
This is the main job of HomeView: being the control center of your home.
- Control your devices: turn on lights, lock doors, change the thermostat, set timers. Use your voice or tap the screen.
- Watch your cameras: see up to 9 security cameras at once on one screen
- Quick device panel: one tap to reach your most-used devices
- Works as a home hub: a "home hub" is the device that keeps your automations running and lets you control your home when you're away. HomeView can do this for HomeKit and Matter devices.
Quick explainer:
- HomeKit = Apple's smart home system
- Matter = a newer standard that lets devices from different brands work together
Apple also announced its own smart door lock, security cameras, and video doorbell at the same time, clearly built to work with HomeView.
Sound, mics, and camera
Speakers
- Both versions have 2 speakers in the screen
- The countertop version adds a bass speaker in the base for fuller sound
- Supports Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos (sound that feels like it surrounds you)
- It adjusts its sound to fit your room automatically
Microphones
- 4 microphones designed to hear you from across the room
Camera
- 12MP front camera for FaceTime calls
- Center Stage: the camera follows you as you move, so you stay in the picture while cooking or walking around
Safety bonus: HomeView can hear smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and alert you. That's a quietly useful feature, especially if you're not home.
Made for the whole family
This is the biggest difference from other smart screens.
- Recognizes up to 6 people by their face
- Each person gets their own Home Screen with their own apps and widgets
- Your private info stays private. Your messages and calendar only show up when HomeView sees your face AND your iPhone is nearby and recently unlocked. Both have to match.
- Shared stuff for everyone: create shared photo albums and music playlists that the whole family (and even guests) can enjoy
Apps and everyday use
Built-in apps include:
- Calendar, Reminders, Notes
- Messages and FaceTime
- Photos (great as a digital photo frame)
- Music and Podcasts
- Find My (find your lost iPhone or AirPods)
Other things it can do:
- Step-by-step recipes, perfect for the kitchen
- Watch videos from Apple TV and other compatible apps on your iPhone
What we still don't know
Apple hasn't answered these yet:
- Is it a Thread border router? (Thread is a fast, low-power way for smart devices to connect. Not confirmed yet.)
- Will there be third-party apps? No developer tools have been announced, so there's no HomeView App Store for now.
- How does it work with your HomePod or Apple TV if you already use one as your home hub?
- When is it coming to Europe?
If you find answers to any of these, share them below!
And if you get one after November 13, come back and share your setup. Real experiences will help everyone decide.
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