Apple has launched HomeView, a smart display for the home that costs £299 in the UK and can be pre-ordered now. It was announced on 13 October, and both versions arrive on Friday 13 November. It is built around a 7-inch screen and the new Siri AI.
Two versions, same price
HomeView comes in two forms. The tabletop model pairs the display with a domed speaker base through a stainless steel hinge, so you can tilt the screen, and comes in silver, starlight, rose pink or space grey. The wall-mounted model has the same display and comes in space grey or silver. Both cost £299 in the UK, which Macworld called surprising, since the wall-only version is not cheaper.
The wall mounts are extra. Made by Schneider Home, they start at £54.95 for a USB-C wall connector and £69.95 for an AC wired mount. A PoE version costs £119.95 and arrives in early 2027. Macworld notes this is “not a cheap option by any means”.
What’s inside
The screen is a 7-inch Liquid Retina display with True Tone, and Apple says its auto brightness runs from 500 nits down to 0.3 nits. Inside is the A18 chip. Apple says a feature called Secure Exclaves processes camera and microphone data separately from the rest of the system, and that the data cannot be reached by apps, the user or Apple itself.
HomeView recognises up to six people by face, and each gets a personal home screen. Apple says Messages and Calendar only show up when the person is recognised and their paired iPhone or iPad is nearby and recently unlocked.
For sound, the tabletop version has two full-range drivers in the display and, in the base, a down-firing woofer and two passive radiators. The wall model has two drivers tuned for hanging on a wall. Macworld says it suspects the wall model will sound weaker, but has not tested either.
Siri AI and the smart home
HomeView runs the new Siri AI, in beta in software version 27.2. It works in English in the UK and other launch markets. To use personal context such as your calendar or messages, you need a paired iPhone or iPad that supports Apple Intelligence. Conversations started on HomeView can continue on other Apple devices.
On the smart home side, you can control cameras, thermostats, lights, locks and blinds by touch or voice, and the Home Camera face can show up to nine camera feeds at once. Recognition of people, pets, packages and vehicles needs a supported iCloud+ plan and compatible cameras. Matter accessories are sold separately. Apple’s own Home Collection of cameras, thermostats and a lock, made with LG and Schneider Electric, starts in December, with some products in early 2027.
Availability
Pre-orders opened on 13 October for the UK, US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India, Singapore and South Africa. HomeView will not be sold in the European Union, because Siri AI is not yet available on iOS there. Greg Joswiak, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing, says it is “designed to be shared by everyone in the home yet feel completely personal to each user”.
Our view
Macworld is sceptical about the price, particularly the cost of the wall mounts. The big question is Siri AI: it is still in beta, and the best features need a recent iPhone or iPad nearby. We have not tested HomeView, so claims on privacy and sound are Apple’s. We will update this article after independent reviews.
iPhone and HomeView are trademarks of Apple Inc. Ctrl + Alt News is independent and is not sponsored or endorsed by Apple. Apple’s images are used for editorial purposes.
Leave a Reply