After long years of non-stop rumors and speculation, Apple has finally decided to knock on the door of the smart home with force and unlock it with its own key. At a special event held in New York City under the title “Welcome Home,” the company unveiled a range of devices and hardware aimed at turning the living area into an integrated ecosystem. The undisputed star of the show was its all-new smart home device, Home View, which represents Cupertino’s long-awaited response to Amazon and Google’s smart displays, alongside simultaneous updates to its family of home devices such as Apple TV and HomePod mini.
Home View Device: A hybrid smart display that redefines home control
Leaks have long spoken of a display similar to an iPad mounted on a speaker base, and rumors sometimes called it HomePad, but Apple avoided the confusion and preferred the name Home View to accurately express its function. The device comes with a seven-inch square Liquid Retina touchscreen mounted on a base that includes a built-in speaker. To provide full flexibility throughout the home, Apple has provided two versions of the device: the first is designed to sit on tables or kitchen counters, and the second is intended for direct wall mounting with special acoustic engineering calibrated to suit frequencies and wall reflection.
The device’s role is not limited to being a standard control panel for home lights and accessories; it is designed to be an interactive display that supports FaceTime calls and following cooking recipes step-by-step while preparing food, in addition to streaming video, music, and podcasts in various rooms.
Apple Intelligence and personal recognition: A screen that changes depending on who is standing in front of it
The turning point in Home View lies in its reliance on Apple Intelligence capabilities with the advanced version of the Siri voice assistant. The device is equipped with the smart ability to recognize the face of the user interacting with it at that very moment; as soon as a family member approaches, the screen immediately switches from the shared home interface to an interface customized specifically for that individual, to display their private notifications, calendar appointments, and personal context derived directly from their iPhone.
Apple has borrowed the beloved customization philosophy from its smartwatch, as Home View allows for the customization of display interfaces that mimic Apple Watch faces, including weather details, favorite photo albums, and animated Snoopy character graphics. As usual, Apple emphasized its privacy and security ecosystem, confirming that each user’s personal data remains completely isolated and is not subject to any tracking or sale to advertising entities.
Pricing and market launch date
Unlike usual with new Apple products in this category, the price was reasonable and surprising to many; Apple set the price of Home View at $299 for both the table version and the wall-mount version. The device is available in four calm colors including silver, starlight, pink, and space gray.
Pre-orders for the device start immediately, with official shipping to users beginning on November 13, initially in English in eight countries, in preparation for gradual expansion to other markets and languages later.
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